Earnest Ray "Bubba" Bean is a former American football running back with the Atlanta Falcons in the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted ninth overall in the first round of the 1976 NFL Draft. Bubba played three seasons for the Falcons, 1976 through 1979. In spite of being sidelined for the entire 1977 season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament, he came back in 1978 to enjoy his best season, rushing for 707 yards on 193 attempts and catching 31 passes for another 209 yards. His yards per carry increased each year finishing with 4.5 in his last year on 88 attempts. He completed his only career pass attempt for 49 yards