Former Falcons LB Fulton Kuykendall dies at 70
He was not on the list.
Former Falcons linebacker Fulton Kuykendall has died, the team announced. He was 70.
“We are deeply saddened by the passing of Grits Blitz member and Falcons Legend, Fulton Kuykendall. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family,” the team wrote on social media.
Kuykendall, known as Kaptain Krazy, played for the Falcons for 10 years before finishing his career in San Francisco.
The Falcons made him a sixth-round pick in 1975, appearing in 123 games with 93 starts.
He played one game for the 49ers in 1985 before retiring.
He was a graduate from the University of California, Los Angeles who played pro football from 1975–1985 for the Atlanta Falcons. The lanky 6-4 225 lb Kuykendall started primarily at inside linebacker for the Falcons from 1975–1983, making the Pro Football Weekly All-NFC Team in 1978.
Nicknamed "Kaptain Krazy" by his teammates, Kuykendall was known for his apparent disregard for his body, launching himself into opposing blockers and ball carriers with fervor. Kuykendall was a member of the famed 1977 Atlanta Falcons "Grits Blitz" defense, which was notable for allowing the fewest points in a season (129) during the Super Bowl era. As a result, that Falcons defense lives on in NFL lore as one of the top NFL Defenses of All-Time.
Kuykendall died of complications from dementia on February 15, 2024, at a memory care facility in Canton, Georgia. He was 70. His widow donated his brain to Boston University's study on chronic traumatic encephalopathy.
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