Brian Jordan was one of the rare two-sport athletes of his generation, but the former Atlanta Falcons and Braves star believes he would not have fared well in today’s NFL.
Jordan recently appeared on Sean Casey’s “The Mayor’s Office” podcast and said that the new rules, particularly the crackdown on helmet-to-helmet hits, would have been costly for him.
“I would have lost a lot of money [today],” Jordan said. “Back in my era, we were taught to lead with the front of your helmet. That’s helmet-to-helmet. We didn’t even think about concussions back then.”
While Jordan’s style of play is now a relic of the past, he does believe that the right measures are being taken to avoid head injuries, he just says that sometimes those collisions are just unavoidable during the course of a game.
“It’s a different game. I like the fact at the youth level teaching them to keep that helmet out of there,” he said. “It’s difficult. You’re going 100 miles per hour. It’s gonna happen. I hate – especially in college football – I hate to see those young men go in there give their best effort and the running back or receiver puts their head down at the same time and you get thrown out with a targeting penalty. Sometimes I think it’s unfair, it’s unintentional. But they’re trying to make the game safer. I get it.”
Jordan’s NFL career lasted just three seasons — from 1989-91 — before the safety left football to embark on a 15-year MLB career with the Cardinals, Braves, Dodgers and Rangers.
His decision to leave the Falcons did not sit well with a teammate and fellow two-sport athlete of his — Deion Sanders.
“I think he was mad at me because, you know, I was a big part of that defense,” he said. “And when I left they were moving into the new dome. And the defense was bad. I mean, I used to watch the games and I would turn it off because I was so mad that the safety that they signed – he sucked. And I think everyone was – well, Deion was made because I left. And that’s why eventually he left [the Falcons] and won some rings with Dallas and San Francisco.”
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