Atlanta Falcons

The Atlanta Falcons are a National Football League team based in Atlanta, Georgia.

Founded: June 30, 1965; played first game in 1966

Home field: Georgia Dome

Previous home field: Atlanta Fulton County Stadium (1966-1991)

Team colors: Home jerseys are red and white with white letters and black trim. Away jerseys are white with black letters and red trim.

Helmet design: Black with a black face mask and a red and black falcon logo white a grey and white border on both sides, which forms the shape of an F.

Championships won: The Falcons won the NFC West Championship in 1980 and 1998, the NFC South championship in 2004, and the NFC championship in 1998 (they also finished with the best record among the four NFC West teams in 1982, but the division standings for that year were used only for the purposes of determining the 1983 regular-season schedules, this being one of the indirect consequences of the 57-day 1982 players' strike).

Franchise history

Timeline / Important Years

• 1965 - The Atlanta Falcons are born. NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle, grants ownership to Rankin M. Smith Sr. They draft Tommy Nobis, LB, University of Texas with the 1st pick of the 1966 NFL Draft (http://www.profootballhof.com/history/general/draft/1966.jsp) held on November 27, 1965, making him the first ever Falcon.
• 1966 - The Falcons play their first NFL season. The aforementioned Nobis wins the NFL Rookie of the Year Award and becomes the first Falcon named to the Pro Bowl. He amasses 294 total tackles a franchise record that stands today.
• 1970 - First Monday Night Football game in Atlanta - Nov. 30 vs. Miami Dolphins
• 1971 - The Falcons finish with a winning record for the first time, at 7-6-1.
• 1972 - The Falcons finish second in the NFC West — their highest division finish in franchise history up to that point.
• 1977 - The Falcons defense sets an NFL record for the fewest points allowed in a 14 game season, 129.
• 1978 - The Falcons make the playoffs for the first time, and beat visiting Philadelphia Eagles, but lose to the Dallas Cowboys in Dallas.
• 1980 - Another playoff berth for the Falcons, as they win the NFC West, but again lose to the Dallas Cowboys in the playoffs.
• 1982 - The Falcons make the playoffs in this strike-shortened season with a record of 5-4, and lose to the Minnesota Vikings in Minnesota.
• 1992 - The Georgia Dome becomes the new home for the Atlanta Falcons, as they move from the Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium.
• 1995 - In the final game of the season, the Falcons beat the San Francisco 49ers to secure a playoff spot. They go on to lose to the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field.
• 1998 - Led by QB Chris Chandler and RB Jamal Anderson, the Falcons have their greatest season to date. 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. With a 14-2 final record and winners of the NFC West, the Falcons would reach Super Bowl XXXIII after upsetting the 15-1 Vikings at Minnesota in the NFC Championship Game. Once there, however, they lost, 34-19 to the Denver Broncos.
• 2001 - Trade the #3 pick along with Tim Dwight to the San Diego Chargers for the #1 pick in the draft. With that pick they selected Mike Vick. Who is to become the face of the franchise.
• 2003 - After star QB Michael Vick breaks his leg in the preseason, the Falcons suffer through a 5-11 season. With 3 games left in the season, coach Dan Reeves resigns, handing the team to his defensive coordinator and former Bills coach Wade Phillips. The Falcons draft Virginia Tech CB DeAngelo Hall with the 8th pick in the 2004 NFL Draft.
• 2004 - Buoyed by the return of QB Michael Vick and energized by new head coach Jim L. Mora, the Falcons go 11-5 and win NFC South easily. The team advances to NFC Championship game before falling to the Philadelphia Eagles 27-10.

Players of note

Pro Football Hall of Famers

No Falcons' players have been elected to the Hall of Fame.

Current players

• Keith Brooking
• Rich Coady
• Michael Vick
• Patrick Kerney
• Warrick Dunn
• Alge Crumpler
• T.J. Duckett

Retired numbers

• 31 William Andrews
• 57 Jeff Van Note
• 60 Tommy Nobis ("Mr. Falcon")
• 10 Steve Bartkowski

Not to be forgotten

• Mike Kenn
• Jessie Tuggle
• Billy "White Shoes" Johnson
• Deion Sanders
• Jamal Anderson
• Chris Miller
• Bill Fralic
• Andre Rison
• Eugene Robinson

External Links

Atlanta Falcons official web site (http://www.atlantafalcons.com/)