Tag Archives: Atlanta Falcons

NFL

Mularkey, Mike ‘Inspector Gadget’

CARDS: Pro Set 1991 HoF Photo Contest, Fleer 1990, Score 1992, Playbook
ACQUIRED: TTM 2022, C/o Home
SENT: 6/13/22 RECEIVED: 6/24/22 (11 days)

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Mike Mularkey played college ball at Florida from 1980 to ’82.
  • He caught 55 passes for 628 yards and 3 TDs over his college career.
  • In 1983 signed with the San Fransisco 49ers as a 9th round pick, but ultimately finished the season on the roster of the Minnesota Vikings.
  • Caught first TD pass against Buccaneers in 1984, for one yard.
  • Known as a blocking TE, played for the Vikings through the ’88 season, catching 42 passes for 464 yards and 5 TDs.
  • Signed as a free agent with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1989 and had a career high 22 receptions for 326 yards and a TD.
  • Recorded career highs again in ’90 catching 32 receptions for 365 yards and 3 TDs.
  • Retired after the 1991 season.
  • After a year off, went into coaching with Concordia University (MN) and was there for two years.
  • Quickly moved back to the NFL in 1994 working with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as a quality control and then later a TE coach.
  • Returned to Pittsburgh in ’96 as a TE coach, and then later as the offensive coordinator (2001-’03).
  • In 2004 took his first head coaching job in Buffalo and coached the team to a 14-18 record over two seasons as the team had to manage a QB controversy in 2005.
  • After an odd season with the Nick Saban Dolphins as OC in 2006, and then Cam Cameron as his TE coach in 2007, Mike hopped over to the Falcons in 2008 where he was OC again.
  • Head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars for one season in 2012, posting a 2-14 record.
  • Stayed in the AFC South as the TE coach for the Tennessee Titans in 2013.
  • Then after Ken Whisenhunt was fired during the season in 2015, Mularkey finished out the season, posting a 2-7 record.
  • Kept on board as the HC, Whisenhunt rebuilt the Titans, and in 2016 and 2017 posted a 9-7 record- making the playoffs in the latter.
  • Served as a TE coach for the Falcons in 2019, retiring from coaching after the season.

ACCOLADES:

  • Assistant Coach of the Year 2001
  • Offensive Coordinator of the Year 2010

NOTES:

Yes! What a play drawn up by Mike! Randle El Shovel 68 (Pitch to Randle El. Shovel to Jerome.) Pretty neat! He even wrote in a few player names including Bettis, Hines, Kordell Stewart and Randle El. So we know for certain this play came from his golden era with the Steelers between 2001-’03. Mike’s nickname ‘Inspector Gadget’ came from his penchant for gadget plays during his time with Pittsburgh.

To be honest, Mike got no respect. I remember when the Titans hired him as their head coach, everyone, even flaming tacks fans were snickering or uninspired by the choice- but much to Mike’s credit, he did build a successful team, and then he was run out of town.. after making the playoffs!

CFL, NFL

Horn, Joe ‘Hollywood’

CARDS: Leaf Rookies & Stars 2004, Leaf Rookies & Stars 2005
ACQUIRED: 2025, Paid Signing

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Joe Horn played WR at tiny Itwamba Community College in Mississippi.
  • He caught 54 passes for 878 yards and 7 TDs and moonlighted as a PR.
  • Did not play football for two years after leaving college.
  • Eventually he caught the attention of the CFL in 1994 during their CFLUSA Invasion.
  • He’d be initially signed by the Baltimore Stallions and then the Shreveport Pirates, before landing on the roster of the Memphis Mad Dogs in 1995.
  • Horn had an outstanding season in the CFL catching 71 passes for 1415 yards.
  • The Chiefs drafted Horn in the 5th round of the 1996 NFL Draft.
  • He’d toil away for the next 4 seasons with the Chiefs only starting 2 contests.
  • Signed with the Saints in 2000 where he’d establish himself as a true receiving threat.
  • Horn caught 94 passes for 1340 yards and 8 TDs that season.
  • He followed up his first thousand yard season with 1265, 1312, and 973 over the next 3 seasons.
  • In 2004, Joe had 94 catches for a career high 1399 yards and 11 TDs.
  • As injuries began to take their toll on Horn, his numbers decreased to a point the Saints asked him to take a pay cut.
  • Released after the 2006 season, Horn finished second in receiving yards and receptions, while setting the franchise mark for receiving TDs with 50 in 7 seasons.
  • Played one final cash grab season with the Falcons in 2007 catching 27 passes for 243 yards and a TD to close out his career.
  • Sells his own BBQ sauce called Bayou 87.
  • Also coaches WR at Northeast Community College.

ACCOLADES:

  • Saints Hall of Fame 2020
  • Pro Bowl 2000-’02, ’04

NOTES:

I had wanted Horn for a while and being that he doesn’t sign TTM when he came cheap, I didn’t hesitate at participating in this signing which also included Rickey Jackson.

Horn is most notoriously known for pulling out a cell phone from underneath a goalpost after scoring a TD during a 2003 Monday Night Football Game.

NFL, The Spring League, ufl, XFL

Sexton, Mathew

CARD: TNT XFL 2023
ACQUIRED: IP, 2025

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Mathew played WR at Eastern Michigan from 2016-’20.
  • He caught 100 passes for 1335 yards and 9 TDs in 43 contests.
  • Undrafted he’d play in The Spring League in 2020.
  • Signed with the Steelers but didn’t make the squad.
  • Signed with the Chiefs in 2022, but was later placed on IR.
  • In 2023 Mathew played for the Vegas Vipers of the XFL 23.
  • Caught 23 passes for 326 yards in 8 contests.
  • Signed with the Falcons and later Patriots in 2023 but was released.
  • Saw time in camp in 2024 with the Dolphins but didn’t make the squad.
  • After the merger of the USFL and XFL, Mathew signed with the San Antonio Brahmas.
  • Played in 4 contests, catching 3 passes for 15 yards.
  • That season he scored on a punt return to beat the eventual UFL Champion DC Defenders and help the Brahmas win their only contest of the season.
  • Sexton had 8 punt returns for 154 yards and a TD on the season.

NOTES:

Just coasted in for the win on this one. When Matt joined the Brahmas I knew they’d put him to work. His signing was a footnote- but being aware of his history as a dependable receiver on a not so hot Vegas team, that played in a terrible stadium, I knew he’d be money. I went to work creating his card with the idea just maybe I’d get it signed.

After he returned his first punt and almost broke loose, I quipped to him on Instagram that he was one step away from breaking one loose. He liked that comment and the image of his card I put up. The next week he broke loose for that TD on the PR, and the rest was history.

It seemed to line up perfectly. After the Brahmas advertised and told me that an event in SA was going to have players- I was pretty annoyed when they backed out of it. I kept the receipts and asked my ticket manager what happened. When I showed him the emails we exchanged about it, he offered me a free after game autograph signing. -I jumped on it.

After the Brahmas got trounced by the Roughnecks, I got piled into a line and shuffled down below. I was excited to see who was going to be there. 8 chairs! 8 chairs of players! -Well no. Not at all. Instead it was 3 players, hastily called over as they walked off the field. Two other players came over. They didn’t have cards, and the team didn’t provide the autograph postcard they promised in another email. Thankfully Mathew was in the group and I got his autograph on this card.

I gave him the extra I had. Clanked the plastic holder there and said, “This is for you.” He seemed very happy to have his own card and thanked me for my effort. Sometimes the expense is completely worth it for the quality, as I heard him like many players who are in shock about having their own card: “Wow, it looks so real.”