Bill Jobko, an original Atlanta Falcon who went on to scout for the team, died of an abdominal aortic aneurysm Saturday. He was 69.

After eight years anchoring the defenses of the Los Angeles Rams and Minnesota Vikings, Jobko came to the Atlanta Falcons in 1966 as part of the expansion draft. During that inaugural season, he played with future Falcons great Tommy Nobis, that season's rookie of the year.

"We both played linebacker and lined up side by side," said Nobis, of Atlanta, now the Falcons vice president of corporate development. "Bill was the defensive team captain that year, the old veteran who took care of the young rookie.

"I remember Bill as a guy who took his abilities to the hilt and gave a great effort all the time."

Jobko, an Ohio native, died at a hospital in Snellville, Ga. The body was cremated. The memorial service was Wednesday in Snellville.

After finishing high school, Jobko received a football scholarship to Ohio State University, where he became a pillar of the offensive line for the 1954 and 1957 national champion Buckeyes. In 1957, the All-American was chosen his team's most valuable player.

His first year as a Falcons linebacker was his last because he developed high blood pressure and was forced to retire.

He served as the Falcons' linebackers coach under head coach Norb Heckerin 1968 before becoming a Falcons college scout in 1969. In 1978, he was named the Falcons director of pro personnel, a position he held until 1989.

A former director of player personnel for the Falcons, Tom Braatz of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., called Jobko a standout talent scout.

"He had a feel for who could play and who couldn't. You could go into the draft and ask who the next best linebacker was on the board, and Bill always knew," Braatz told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Survivors include his wife, Julie Jobko; a daughter, Lisa Jones of Loganville; two sons, Kenneth Jobko of Worthington, Ohio, and Dean Jobko of Lawrenceville; a stepdaughter, Lindy Lucas of Glendale, Calif.; a stepson, David Lucas of Rahway, N.J.; a sister, Darla Coyne of Lansing, Ohio; and nine grandchildren.

William K Jobko