While Rajon Rondo's time in Atlanta was brief, lasting only half of the 2020-21 season before being traded to the Clippers at the trade deadline, Atlanta fans remember how magical a season it was, and the lasting impact Rajon Rondo had on that team before they went on their run to the Eastern Conference Finals.
He's not throwing alley-oops in State Farm Arena anymore, but he still is dishing dimes, just in a new sport. According to Legion Hoops, Rajon Rondo is ranked as the #1 quarterback in the National Flag Football League (NFFL).
Yes, you heard that right. The once infamous assist machine is now taking those skills from the hardwood and translating them to the football field. Rondo has mostly stayed out of the spotlight since his retirement in April 2024, so not a lot is known about his introduction and journey into the world of flag football.
There are a lot of unknowns regarding his flag football thus far
However, one thing fans can be certain about is Rondo's unmatched skill set. While his stint in Atlanta wasn't as long of a chapter as Hawks fans might've hoped, they got a glimpse of the greatness & praise that we've come to associate with the name Rajon Rondo. If there's any point guard, past or present, that would have the field vision good enough to compete in any type of organized football, it would be Rajon Rondo.
We all saw his iconic assists in his early years with Boston, and later down the line, his undeniable leadership and knowledge of the game, most notably during his stints with the Los Angeles Lakers. These are the critical traits scouting value in quarterbacks, and now we get a chance to see how a skill set like Rondo's would translate to another sport.
For all we know, the Atlanta Falcons might be shopping for a quarterback here in the near future if the Michael Penix experience never fully comes into fruition, and maybe Rajon Rondo can be the veteran presence that the Falcons thought Kirk Cousins was going to be.
Jokes aside, this newfound profession for Rondo seems like the perfect extension for the career that he's had up to this point. He's always been a master of timing, angles, and the knowledge of his respective sport. While these passes won't be going to Trae Young or Clint Capela anymore, it's inspiring to see that he's still out here dishing the rock, even if they are measured by touchdowns now instead of field goals.