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Atlanta Falcons Team History
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The date June 30, 1965, always will be remembered as both a termination and a commencement in the history of Atlanta sports. On this day Atlanta successfully ended their many and disparate struggles to place a professional football team in the Southeast's key metropolis. At the same time the Atlanta Falcons were born and began a storied tenure in the National Football League. The team’s first head coach was Norb Hecker, a former assistant to the legendary Vince Lombardi of the Green Bay Packers. Linebacker Tommy Nobis was the team’s first draft pick; in 1966 he captured the NFL rookie of the year award. The Atlanta Falcons began their first NFL season in the NFL Eastern Conference, playing a "swing schedule", consisting of playing every other team once, in order to make up for the disparity of an odd number of teams. Their first game (preseason) was on August 1, 1966 against the Philadelphia Eagles before a crowd of 26,072 at the Atlanta Stadium.
Atlanta Falcons Chronological History
1966
Atlanta is granted franchise rights. The first coach is Norb Hecker who worked previously as an assistant to Vince Lombardi of the Green Bay Packers.
1969
Falcons win first season opener ever, beating 49ers, 24-12, before home fans. Rookie Tight End Jim Mitchell scored two TD's and club set team record with 229 yards rushing.
1977
With 35-7 final win over Saints, Falcons establish new NFL modern day record for 14-game season by allowing just 129 points all year as club finishes 7-7.
1978
The Falcons post a 9-7 record and qualify for post season play for the first time.
1980
The Falcons win the Western Division but lose to the Cowboys in the second round of the playoffs.
1982
The Falcons return to the playoff's yet again.
1990
The Falcons announce plans for their 25th Anniversary season that include going back to their original black jerseys of 1966. In addition black helmets are unveiled along with the 25th anniversary logo patches for the uniforms.
1994
Former Quarterback June Jones returns to the team as head coach (He played in the 1978 season).
1997
Rankin Smith died at the age of 72 on the eve of a Sunday Night game against Carolina. This game aired on TNT, part of Time Warner's Turner Broadcasting System - which is based in Atlanta. In fact, this is the last NFL game aired on TNT to date.
1998
The Falcons post a 14-2 record and win the NFC Western.
1999
The Falcons compete in Superbowl XXXIII. Unfortunately the Falcons were beaten soundly and scored two late touchdowns, one on a 94-yard kickoff return by Tim Dwight, to make the score a more respectable final of 34-19.
2001
NFL Draft, the Falcons orchestrated a trade with the San Diego Chargers to attain the #1 overall draft pick with which they chose the electrifying sophomore QB Michael Vick out of Virginia Tech.
2002
In a special meeting in New Orleans on February 2, 2002, NFL owners vote unanimously to approve the sale of the Falcons to Arthur Blank. Additionally, the Falcons became part of the NFC South division, after 30+ seasons in the geographically inaccurate NFC West.
2003
In front of a crowd of several hundred fans at the Mall of Georgia in Buford, Ga., the Falcons unveiled their new uniforms, a change for the first time since 1990. Falcons fans voiced their approval as LB Keith Brooking, TE Alge Crumpler, RB Warrick Dunn, DE Patrick Kerney, WR Peerless Price and QB Michael Vick modeled the new threads.
2004
Vick signed a 10-year, $130 million contract with a $37 million signing bonus, the richest contract in NFL history at the time.
2007
The Falcons spent most of the 2007 season trying to overcome the controversy surrounding Vick and his involvement in an illegal dog fighting ring. Under considerable pressure, the NFL barred Vick from attending training camp pending its own investigation into the matter. For all intents and purposes, the Falcons' season effectively ended when Vick was arraigned on federal dog fighting charges on July 26
2008
Matt Ryan, a quarterback from Boston College, was drafted third overall to be the new face of the franchise.
2012
Atlanta narrowly defeated the Seattle Seahawks 30-28 in the Divisional round after blowing a 27-7 3rd-quarter lead. The Seahawks took a 28-27 lead with 31 seconds left, but Ryan quickly led the Falcons downfield to set up Matt Bryant's game-winning 49-yard field goal with 8 seconds remaining. Atlanta would go on to host the NFC Championship Game and face the San Francisco 49ers.
Atlanta Falcons Franchise Information
- Franchise Granted: 1965
- First Season: 1966
- 1966 - Present Atlanta Falcons
A fan contest was held and the team received more than 1,300 entries suggesting 558 different names. Although several entries in a fan contest suggested Falcons, a schoolteacher was declared the winner because of her reason “…the falcon is proud and dignified with great courage and fight.”
Atlanta Falcons - Stadium
Georgia Dome
One Georgia Dome Dr., N.W.
Atlanta, GA 30313-1591
(404)223-9200 Opened: August, 1992
Capacity: 71,500-football;20,000+ as arena
Surface: Artificial Turf
Tenants:
Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Hawks
Peach Bowl
SEC Football & Basketball
USA/Mobil Indoor Track and Field
Previous Stadiums
Atlanta - Fulton County Stadium (1966-1991)
League Championships
None
Conference Championships
1998 (NFC)
Division Championships
1990 (NFC West), 1998 (NFC West), 2004 (NFC South), 2012 (NFC South)
Wild Card Wins
1991 (NFC West), 2002 (NFC South)
Years in Playoffs
1978, 1980, 1982, 1991, 1995, 1998, 2002, 2004, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012
Atlanta Falcons
Coaches
Jerry Glanville
1990 - 1993
Marion Campbell
1987 - 1989
Leeman Bennett
1977 - 1982
Marion Campbell
1974 - 1976
Norm Van Brocklin
1968 - 1974
Retired Numbers
None
Hall of Fame Members
Norm Van Brocklin
1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973 and 1974