Atlanta Falcons With Ties to New England

Brian Cox 

Falcons Defensive Line Coach 

Cox played defensive line for the Patriots during the 2001 season. He helped the Patriots win their first Super Bowl in franchise history that season. 

Cox totaled 165 games played and recorded 764 tackles and 51 sacks in his NFL career. 

Jerome Henderson 

Falcons Defensive Passing Game Coordinator 

Henderson was drafted by the Patriots in the second round of the 1991 draft and played with the team until 1993 and then again in 1996.  

In his career, he had nine interceptions and one sack.  

Joe Vellano 

Falcons Defensive Tackle 

Vellano played defensive tackle for the Patriots during the 2013-14 season totaling 60 tackles. 

He signed with the Patriots as an undrafted free agent prior to the 2013 season. 

Joel Collier 

Falcons Director of Pro Personnel 

Collier spent multiple seasons with the Patriots and served in multiple roles. 

In 1991-92, Collier was the Patriots assistant running backs coach, and in 1993 he served as a pro scout.

After a hiatus, he came back to New England and served as the assistant secondary coach in 2005 and then secondary coach in 2006-07. 

Scott Pioli 

Falcons Assistant General Manager 

Pioli spent multiple seasons with the Patriots as assistant director of player personnel in 2000, director of player personnel in 2001 and vice president of player personnel from 2002-08.

He left New England for the Kansas City Chiefs where he served as general manager from 2009-2012 before going to Atlanta. 

Thomas Dimitroff 

Falcons General Manager 

Dimitroff was the director of college scouting for the Patriots from 2003-2007. During his run, the Patriots put together a 77-17 record and won two Super Bowls (2003 and 2004).

Dimitroff's father, Tom, also played one year for the Boston Patriots during their inaugural season in1960.

Matt Ryan 

Falcons Quarterback 

Ryan played quarterback at Boston College from 2004-2007.

He led the Eagles to national relevance during his junior and senior year, putting together back-to-back 10-plus win seasons and earning First-Team All-American and ACC Player of the Year as a senior in 2007. 

Chad Walker 

Falcons Assistant Linebackers Coach 

Walker was the defensive coordinator at Bryant University from 2008-10.

Josh Keyes 

Falcons Linebacker

Keyes played his college career at Boston College where he appeared in 43 games and totaled 124 tackles.

Arthur Blank 

Falcons Owner 

Blank graduated from Babson College in Wellesley, Mass., in 1963 with a bachelor's degree in Business Administration.

The Arthur M. Blank Center for Entrepreneurship at Babson was named after him in 1998.

Dwight Freeney 

Falcons Defensive End

Freeney is a native of Hartford, Conn. where he went to Bloomfield High School and earned All-American and All-Central Connecticut West honors.

Freeney was a member of the 2006 Colts team that won the Super Bowl after beating the Patriots in the AFC Championship. 

Nick Williams 

Falcons Wide Receiver 

Williams played his college career at the University of Connecticut. He played in 42 games for the Huskies and recorded 43 catches for 588 yards and two touchdowns.

In his NFL career, he has 25 catches for 233 yards and two touchdowns. 

Bldi Wreh-Wilson 

Falcons cornerback 

Wreh-Wilson was born in Malden, Mass. and went to the University of Connecticut.

As a senior with the Huskies in 2012, Wreh-Wilson was honored as the team MVP and was named to the All-Big East Second Team.