Dronett became a free agent at the end of the 1995 season and signed a 2-year contract with the Atlanta Falcons.
Three days after being released by the Lions he was signed by the Falcons, who had just hired as their new head coach Dan Reeves, who had originally drafted Dronett to play for the Broncos.
Dronett returned to playing defensive tackle and played a significant role in the Falcons' defense which ranked second in the NFL against the run, allowing only 75.2 rushing yards per game, and produced 313 tackles, 29.5 sacks, and 13 forced fumbles (11 recovered).
When the Falcons won the NFC Championship in 1998, Dronett played in Super Bowl XXXIII against the Denver Broncos.
'"Dronett suffered several other injuries, including knee and shoulder problems, over the next two seasons that limited his ability to play.
[12] After his death, Dronett's brain was tested at Boston University School of Medicine's Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy.
Scientists determined that Dronett suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a brain disease associated with repeated head trauma.
[13][14] According to the co-director of the center, Dr. Robert Stern, linemen are estimated to hit their heads about 1,000 times in each season they play.