The 2016-2017 National Football League Season is underway and the Atlanta Falcons have a lot on their plate.

This is the final season that the Dirty Birds will play in the infamous Georgia Dome where they now will transition to the new and improved Mercedes-Benz Dome. While that is going on they are now receiving new and improved talent to prepare them for not only the Superbowl in 2017, but for the Superbowl in 2019 which will be in Atlanta, Georgia. Falcons fans have been waiting patiently to see their birds make it to the Superbowl, and for them to play in the Superbowl in their home field is heart-wrenching.

Philip Wheeler, one of the newest linebackers on the Atlanta Falcons football team was able to play a few games in the 2015 season, helping to bring the team to new heights. Although he only played nine games for Atlanta, he finished the season recording 29 total tackles, one sack and one forced fumble.

As a native of Columbus, Georgia and a graduate of Shaw High School and Georgia Institute of Technology. He was drafted in 2008 to the Indianapolis Colts where he had the opportunity to appear in the Superbowl 44 in 2010 against the New Orleans Saints. He later went on to play with the Oakland Raiders and Miami Dolphins. Now he's back home in the Peach state to help bring the Falcons to the playoffs.

Overall, Wheeler has had a career of 524 combined tackles with 140 assisted tackles. In addition to that, he has had 6.5 sacks displaying his superb defensive skills with every team that has witnessed his talent.

With Wheeler being back home in Georgia for the next season, he will have an overwhelming amount of hometown support, which will also help the Falcons earn their long overdue spot in the playoffs.

There is no doubt that Matt Ryan, Julio Jones and Philip Wheeler are a big three that will dominate the field in the 2016 football season.