After a legendary career at the University of Texas Tommy Nobis was considered to be one of the most highly sought after players ever to enter the professional ranks. He was the NFL's number one draft choice and the first player ever drafted by the new expansion team Atlanta Falcons in 1966. After turning down more financially lucrative offers from the Houston Oilers of the infant and rival AFL he signed with the Falcons and the more established NFL (the Oilers even had Mission Control in Houston have astronauts greet Tommy with a recruiting message while they were orbiting Earth). He wore this exact style Riddell "RK" helmet and face mask at Texas.  The first year Falcons, using all new equipment, furnished him with a new style Schutt "NOP" face mask that used attachment clips in place of the "Butterfly" bolt on attachment bracket that he wore at Texas. During both his college and pro career the hard hitting linebacker had his suspension helmet "beefed up" with the Riddell "Aero Cell" padding upgrade.