Atlanta Falcons

The Atlanta Falcons are a American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are currently a member of the NFC South of the National Football Conference (NFC) in the National Football League (NFL). The Falcons joined the NFL as a 1966 expansion team. more...

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In their 41 years of existence, the Falcons have compiled a record of 258-374-6 with division championships in 1980, 1998 and 2004, and appeared in Super Bowl XXXIII in Miami, Florida, losing 34-19 to the Denver Broncos.

Franchise history

The Atlanta Falcons franchise began on June 30, 1965 when NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle granted ownership to Rankin M. Smith Sr. The Atlanta Falcons drafted LB Tommy Nobis from the University of Texas with the first pick of the 1966 NFL Draft, making him the first ever Falcon.

The Falcons had its first season in 1966, and had its first game (preseason) on August 1, 1966 where it was handed a defeat to the Philadelphia Eagles. Losing its first nine games that season, its first victory was on the road against the New York Giants. The team finished the 1960s with only 12 wins. The Falcons had its first Monday Night Football game in Atlanta during the 1970 season and, after a losing record in 1970, the 1971 season was its first winning record.

In the 1978 season, the Falcons entered its first playoff series, and won the Wild Card Playoffs against the Eagles only to lose to the Dallas Cowboys in the Divisional Playoffs. In 1980, it finished 12-4 only to lose again to the Cowboys in the Divisional Playoffs. After the 1981 season, the Atlanta Falcons did not see another playoff series until 1991, when it lost to the Washington Redskins in the Divisional Playoffs.

Led by QB Chris Chandler and RB Jamal Anderson, the "Dirty Bird" Falcons had their greatest season to date in 1998. On November 8, they won 41-10 over the Patriots at New England, snapping a streak of 22 consecutive losses at cold-weather sites in November and December that had dated back to 1982. The team finished with a 14-2 regular season record and the NFC West division championship. On January 18, 1999, the Falcons upset the top-seeded 15-1 Vikings at Minnesota in the NFC Championship Game, 30-27 in overtime. They lost, 34-19, to the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XXXIII.

In the 2001 NFL Draft, the Falcons orchestrated a trade with the San Diego Chargers, acquiring the first overall pick (which was used on quarterback Michael Vick) in exchange for wide receiver Tim Dwight and the fifth overall pick (used on running back LaDainian Tomlinson). Michael Vick became backup to starting QB Chris Chandler, and was the full-time starting quarterback by 2002. He lead them to the playoffs in 2002 only to lose to the Philadelphia Eagles once again in the Divisional Playoffs. During the 2003 preseason, Michael Vick broke his leg and missed the first twelve games of the season, bringing their record to a dismal 5-11 record.

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