Eugene Cronin, first person hired by Atlanta Falcons, dies

Eugene Cronin, a former NFL player and the first person hired by the Falcons in 1965, died Tuesday, according to his son Edward. Cronin died peacefully in Northern California at the age of 90.

Cronin was hired by the Falcons after an NFL career and served as director of player personnel. He later was promoted to assistant general manager. He left in 1968.

Cronin’s son Edward said he was a “piece of Atlanta trivia not many people ever knew.”

Cronin was born Nov. 20, 1933. He played collegiately at Sacramento City College and transferred to University of the Pacific in 1953. He was a defensive end and was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the seventh round (No. 74 overall) in the 1956 NFL draft. In 1957, he was part of the Lions team that won the NFL championship.

Cronin was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the 1960 expansion draft and started at right outside linebacker in their inaugural season. He was traded to the Washington Redskins in 1961 and played two seasons.

After retirement following a back injury, Cronin worked as a scout for the Lions. He later joined the Falcons in 1965 when Atlanta was awarded an expansion team. He was hired by new owner Rankin Smith at the age of 32.

According to his son, Cronin’s only objective early on was to draft and sign Texas All-American linebacker Tommy Nobis away from the AFL. Cronin spent much of the latter part of 1965 in Austin developing a relationship with the Nobis family. It paid off as the Falcons drafted Nobis in 1966 with the No. 1 overall pick.

Cronin was responsible for the first two years of Falcons football in 1966 and 1967; which saw a collective record of 4-23-1. After that second losing season, Cronin was let go and eventually moved back to his hometown of Sacramento.

In 1984, Cronin was inducted into the Pacific Athletics Hall of Fame. In 2001, he was inducted into the Sacramento City College Hall of Fame.

He spent his post-NFL life running a bar in Sacramento. Cronin leaves behind a wife and two adult children.

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