For one player on the field Sunday, it was a homecoming. For another, it was a chance to show off his skills to America's Team.
Both learned tragic news about their family members as soon as the game ended.
Sunday afternoon, while the Falcons hosted the Dallas Cowboys at Mercedes Benz Stadium, at least one relative of Julio Jones was critically injured during a shootout.
The Baldwin County Alabama Sheriff says 20-year-old Royald Jones and brothers, 22-year-old Jermain Dickerson, 23-year-old Tamairus Dickerson, went to a mobile home in Magnolia Springs, outside of Mobile, Alabama and confronted 19-year-old Jahlen Baker with guns.
Baker's cousin returned fire and four people, Jones, Baker and the Dickersons, were shot.
"At least 30 rounds were fired that we know of, at this time," said Baldwin County Sheriff Huey Mack, Jr. "We're still trying to get to the bottom of what actually started this confrontation that led up to the gunshots."
No one has been charged yet.
11Alive has confirmed that Julio is related to Royald. It's been reported that Royald has a relation to the Dickerson brothers and Baker. It's unclear if Julio is close with any of the people involved.
"My family is good, everybody is good. So I can come out here and play. And do what I need to do to take care of business," said Julio Jones shortly before practice Tuesday.
Jones learned of the shooting shortly after the game.
"I never let stuff off the field, impact me on the field," Jones said.
Over in the visitor's locker room, Cowboys receiver, and Walton County native, Michael Gallup also learned tragic news.
Gallup's brother died of an apparent suicide.
Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett confirmed the news in an interview with FAN 105.3 on Monday.
"We just found out after the ballgame that his brother had committed suicide and just wanted to leave it at that," Garrett told radio hosts Shan & RJ. "It's a very personal matter. We are very supportive of Michael and his family, this is going to be a very challenging time for him. Have to take it moment by moment, day by day and give him our support."
Gallup grew up in the metro-area and went to Monroe Area High School.