South Gwinnett News

Henry Ison, a longtime Atlanta Falcons fan, was recently chosen as the 2021 NFL Fan of the Year by a committee of NFL executives, players and media figures.

Captain Morgan bestowed the honor to Ison, a Vietnam veteran and community activist, at the 11th annual NFL Honors dinner and awards ceremony on Feb 10.

"A dedicated fan for 50 years," the team posted announced on Twitter, "Congratulations to our American Family Insurance Fan of the Year Henry Ison."  

Henry Ison, a longtime Atlanta Falcons fan, was recently chosen as the 2021 NFL Fan of the Year by a committee of NFL executives, players and media figures, | Henry Isom/Facebook

The NFL and its 32 clubs organize the event each year to demonstrate their appreciation for its fans.

The event honors supporters who not only express their support for their favorite team, but also demonstrate how the sport has united their community.

This year, every team's "Fan of the Year" received two tickets to Super Bowl LVI, along with unique league awards, exclusive interactive meetings with NFL officials and access to NFL events during the NFL season and Super Bowl week.

Ison has been a Falcons fan and season ticket holder since 1971, devoting more than 50 years watching Falcons games with his family. He frequently travels to road games across the nation, including an annual road trip to New Orleans to see the Falcons take on the Saints in their annual division matchup.

Ison owns and operates a local recycling brokerage firm, donated shipping containers through his company that were converted into makeshift hospitals to treat COVID-19 patients during the peak of the pandemic.

On Feb. 7, 2022, Ison received a surprise video confirmation from Falcons Owner and Chairman Arthur Blank that he'd been chosen as the NFL Fan of the Year for 2021.

Ison also received videos from team president Rich McKay and team icons Warrick Dunn, Jessie Tuggle, Michael Turner, Michael Vick, and Roddy White.