Brian Jordan was perfectly happy in Saint Louis. He was playing baseball at an All-Star level, an established pro. But he knew there was another step for him to take to reach his professional goals, and he knew that step was in Atlanta.
“Being able to play for Bobby Cox with Hall of Fame players was the reason I came,” he says. “You knew you were going to win going into the season, you had that type of confidence. Baseball was great here for 14 years straight, they did something no other team has done –– being able to be a part of five of those was a really great thing.”
Jordan already knew about the sports fans in Atlanta too. As a two-sport athlete Jordan was also drafted by the Falcons, playing there for several seasons as he worked his way up the minor leagues in baseball.
“The true Atlanta fans –– which I’ve seen with the Falcons field, Braves stadiums, and now with Atlanta United –– they love their sports. They really come out in droves with support.”
After a few memorable, winning years in Atlanta, a trade sent him away for the latter years of his career. That’s the nature of pro sports after all. But when he hung up his cleats, he didn’t go back to his hometown Washington, D.C. He came back to his adpoted home.
“I just love the people here. I l was fortunate enough to do well here, and people remember me."
"It’s like having family everywhere I go. That’s why I love Atlanta and I’m not going anywhere.”
Jordan got engrained back into the city right away, as an analyst for the Braves and starting the Brian Jordan foundation to give back to the Atlanta community. But he’s been a keen observer as Atlanta United went from a rumor to a team to a phenomenon in the capital of the South.
“Oh my gosh, there’s nothing Arthur Blank can’t do,” he laughs. “I never thought Atlanta United would have this kind of impact so quickly, but the soccer craze is incredible. I came to my first game last year, and I was telling my family and friends right away that they have to get down to an Atlanta United game.”
Jordan didn’t consider himself a soccer fan growing up, but Atlanta United is changing his mind. He says the product on the field was incredible right away, but for someone with a limited soccer background, it was the atmosphere off the pitch that sucked him in right away.
“I wasn’t sure if I was going to like it, but being here in person, seeing the fan support and the constant noise –– no one sat down! Soccer is constant. Football or baseball fans may sit down for a while and wait for something to cheer for, but soccer, they’re on their feet the whole game."
"The energy just never stops. For me that was it –– I got into it real quick. I may not have been a soccer fan coming in, but I am now. It’s just fun to watch.”
But just as much as the team’s contributions on the field, he says he’s happy for what Atlanta United brought to the city off it.
“It brings flair."
"For me, diversity is so important and Atlanta is such a diverse place. There were so many doubters and it just took off. If you look at how big soccer is around the world, so many globally have come here to Atlanta. So to be able to have a soccer team and to see the support, Arthur Blank knew what he was doing.”
Jordan went from watching from afar to being in the stands, but then he went yet another step earlier this month by getting up in front of the Supporters’ Section himself. He says driving in the Golden Spike was a moment he won’t soon forget.
“It was awesome. The fans were all around me, giving me all their scarves. But what a fantastic feeling, this is a rowdy crowd and soccer is just unbelievable. I just have to say again: if you haven’t yet, you have to come down and experience it.”
© 2026 Atlanta United FC
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