Atlanta Falcons facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Atlanta Falcons
Current season
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Basic info
Established	June 30, 1965; 59 years ago (June 30, 1965)
Colors	Black, red, silver, white
Mascot	Freddie Falcon
Personnel
Owner(s)	Arthur Blank
CEO	Rich McKay
President	Greg Beadles
General manager	Terry Fontenot
Head coach	Raheem Morris
Nicknames
The Dirty Birds Grits Blitz (1977 defense)
Team history
Atlanta Falcons (1966–present)
Home fields
Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium (1966–1991) Georgia Dome (1992–2016) Mercedes-Benz Stadium (2017–present)
League / conference affiliations
National Football League (1966–present) Eastern Conference (1966) Western Conference (1967–1969) Coastal Division (1967–1969) National Football Conference (1970–present) NFC West (1970–2001) NFC South (2002–present)
Championships
League championships: 0
Conference championships: 2 NFC: 1998, 2016
Division championships: 6 NFC West: 1980, 1998 NFC South: 2004, 2010, 2012, 2016
Playoff appearances (14)
NFL: 1978, 1980, 1982, 1991, 1995, 1998, 2002, 2004, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2016, 2017
Owner(s)
Rankin M. Smith Sr. (1965–1989) Taylor Smith (1989–2002) Arthur Blank (2002–present)

The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team from Atlanta, Georgia. They play in the National Football League (NFL) as part of the National Football Conference (NFC) South division. The Falcons started on June 30, 1965, and joined the NFL in 1966 as a new team. This happened because the NFL wanted to stop their owner, Rankin Smith, from joining another league called the American Football League (AFL).

Over their history, the Falcons have won many games and made it to the playoffs several times. They have won their division six times: in 1980, 1998, 2004, 2010, 2012, and 2016. The Falcons have played in two Super Bowls, which are the NFL's championship games. In 1998, they lost to the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XXXIII. Eighteen years later, they lost to the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LI in overtime. They are the oldest major sports team in America that has not yet won a championship.

The Falcons play their home games at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, which opened in 2017. Their main offices and practice fields are in Flowery Branch, a town northeast of Atlanta.

History of the Atlanta Falcons

How professional football came to Atlanta

Professional football first came to Atlanta with exhibition games in 1962 and 1964. After the Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium was built in 1965, Atlanta wanted its own professional football team.

Different groups tried to get a team for Atlanta. The NFL Commissioner, Pete Rozelle, quickly stepped in to make sure Atlanta joined the NFL instead of the rival AFL. On June 30, 1965, the city chose Rankin Smith and the NFL.

The Atlanta Falcons became the 15th NFL team. They were allowed to start playing in 1966. Rankin Smith Sr. bought the team for $8.5 million, which was the most expensive franchise at that time.

The Falcons got the first pick in the 1966 NFL draft. They chose linebacker Tommy Nobis from the University of Texas, who became the first-ever Falcon player. The team also picked other players from existing NFL teams. Even with good players, it took time for the Falcons to start winning consistently.

The team got its name, "Falcons," on August 29, 1965. A school teacher named Miss Julia Elliott suggested it. She wrote that a falcon is "proud and dignified, with great courage and fight. It never drops its prey. It is deadly and has a great sporting tradition."

The Smith Family Era (1966–2001)

The Falcons' first season was in 1966. Their first game was a loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. They lost their first nine regular-season games. Their first win came on November 20, 1966, against the New York Giants. The team finished their first season with only one win.

The Falcons had a tough start, with many losing seasons. They had their first two winning seasons in 1971 (7–6–1) and 1973 (9–5).

The Falcons' defense playing against John Elway and the Denver Broncos in 1985.

In 1978, the Falcons made the playoffs for the first time. They won their first playoff game against the Philadelphia Eagles. The next week, they lost to the Dallas Cowboys. In 1980, the Falcons had their best record yet, 12–4, and won their first NFC West division title. But their season ended with a playoff loss to the Cowboys.

In 1989, the Falcons drafted Deion Sanders, a talented cornerback. He was known as "Neon Deion" or "Prime Time" because of his flashy style. He helped bring a lot of attention to the team. Deion Sanders also played professional baseball at the same time!

The Falcons playing against the Los Angeles Rams in 1991.

The Falcons made the playoffs again in 1991 but lost in the second round. In 1991, they also drafted quarterback Brett Favre, but he was traded to the Green Bay Packers the next year.

In 1992, the Falcons moved into a new stadium called the Georgia Dome. They played there for many years.

The Dan Reeves Years (1997–2003)

In 1998, with new coach Dan Reeves, quarterback Chris Chandler, and running back Jamal Anderson, the Falcons had their best season ever. They finished with a fantastic 14–2 record and won their division. On January 17, 1999, the Falcons won an exciting overtime game against the Minnesota Vikings to become NFC champions. This meant they went to their first-ever Super Bowl, Super Bowl XXXIII. However, they lost to the Denver Broncos.

The next season, in 1999, Jamal Anderson got a serious knee injury, and the team had a disappointing 5–11 record. They also missed the playoffs in 2000.

In 2001, the Falcons traded for the first pick in the NFL draft and chose quarterback Michael Vick. He was a very exciting player known for his running ability.

The Arthur Blank Era (2002–present)

In 2002, Arthur M. Blank, a co-founder of Home Depot, bought the Falcons. The NFL owners approved the sale.

In 2002, the Falcons made it back to the playoffs with Michael Vick as their starting quarterback. They beat the Green Bay Packers in the first round, which was the Packers' first-ever home playoff loss. But the Falcons lost to the Philadelphia Eagles the next week.

In 2003, the Falcons got a new logo. Michael Vick broke his leg and missed most of the season. Coach Dan Reeves was fired, and the team finished with a 5–11 record.

The Jim Mora Years (2004–2006)

In 2004, Jim L. Mora became the new head coach, and Michael Vick was back for the whole season. The Falcons had a great year, winning 11 games and their division. They beat the St. Louis Rams in the playoffs but lost to the Eagles in the NFC Championship game.

The Falcons didn't have a winning season in 2005 or 2006. In 2006, Michael Vick became the first quarterback in NFL history to run for over 1,000 yards in a season. After the 2006 season, coach Jim Mora was let go.

A Difficult Season (2007)

Bobby Petrino became the new coach in 2007. Before the season, Michael Vick was suspended by the NFL and later cut from the team due to legal issues. The Falcons had to start a different quarterback. In December 2007, Coach Petrino suddenly left the team to coach at a college, leaving the players a note. The Falcons finished the year with a very bad 4–12 record.

The Mike Smith Years (2008–2014)

After a tough 2007, the Falcons made big changes. They hired a new general manager, Thomas Dimitroff, and a new head coach, Mike Smith. They also drafted a new starting quarterback, Matt Ryan, in 2008.

The Falcons had a great 2008 season, finishing 11–5 and making the playoffs. Matt Ryan was named the Offensive Rookie of the Year, and Mike Smith was named NFL Coach of the Year. They lost in the first round of the playoffs.

In 2010, the Falcons had an amazing 13–3 record and were the top team in the NFC playoffs. However, they lost to the Green Bay Packers in the playoffs.

In 2011, the Falcons traded up in the draft to pick wide receiver Julio Jones. He became a star player, forming a powerful group with teammates Tony Gonzalez and Roddy White. The team finished 10–6 but lost in the playoffs to the New York Giants.

In 2012, the Falcons started with an 8–0 record, being the last unbeaten team in the NFL. They finished the season 13–3 and were the top seed in the NFC playoffs again. They won their first playoff game against the Seattle Seahawks in a very close game, 30–28. This was the only playoff win during Mike Smith's time as coach.

The Falcons then played the San Francisco 49ers for a chance to go to the Super Bowl. The Falcons were leading at halftime, but the 49ers came back and won 28–24.

The next two seasons were tough for the Falcons, with losing records. In 2014, they lost a big game to the Carolina Panthers that would have sent them to the playoffs. After that season, Mike Smith was fired. The Falcons then hired Dan Quinn as their new head coach.

The Dan Quinn Years (2015–2020)

Dan Quinn was the Falcons' head coach from 2015 to 2020.

In Dan Quinn's first season in 2015, the team started 5–0 but then struggled, finishing 8–8.

The 2016 season was the Falcons' last season in the Georgia Dome. They had a great year, finishing 11–5 and winning their division. In the playoffs, they beat the Seattle Seahawks. Then, in their last game at the Georgia Dome, they defeated the Green Bay Packers 44–21 to become NFC champions and go to Super Bowl LI.

In Super Bowl LI, the Falcons were leading the New England Patriots 28–3 in the third quarter. But the Patriots made an incredible comeback, scoring 31 unanswered points and winning 34–28 in overtime. This was the biggest comeback in Super Bowl history.

In 2017, the Falcons moved into their new home, Mercedes-Benz Stadium. They started the season by beating the Green Bay Packers in the new stadium. They finished 10–6 and made the playoffs again. They beat the Los Angeles Rams but lost to the Philadelphia Eagles in the next round. The 2018 and 2019 seasons saw the Falcons miss the playoffs.

In 2020, after starting the season 0–5, Coach Quinn and General Manager Dimitroff were fired. Raheem Morris took over as interim coach for the rest of the season.

The Arthur Smith Years (2021–2024)

On January 15, 2021, Arthur Smith became the Falcons' new head coach. The team also got a new general manager, Terry Fontenot. Star receiver Julio Jones was traded. The Falcons finished the 2021 season with a 7–10 record.

In 2022, longtime star quarterback Matt Ryan was traded to the Indianapolis Colts. The team finished last in their division with another 7–10 record.

In 2023, the Falcons had high hopes after drafting running back Bijan Robinson and adding good defensive players. However, they finished 7–10 for the third straight season and missed the playoffs. Arthur Smith was fired after the season.

The Raheem Morris Years (2024-present)

On January 25, 2024, Raheem Morris returned to the Falcons as the new head coach.

Stadiums

The Falcons have played in three different stadiums. Their first home was the Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium, which they shared with the Atlanta Braves baseball team until 1991.

In 1992, the Georgia Dome was built. The Falcons played there until the 2016 season. The Georgia Dome was also used for many college football games.

To replace the old Georgia Dome, team owner Arthur Blank helped build a new, modern stadium. The new stadium, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, opened in 2017. It has a special roof that can open and close. It is now the home for the Falcons and the Atlanta United FC soccer team.

Logo and Uniforms

The Atlanta Falcons' colors are black, red, silver, and white. When the team started in 1966, their helmets were red with a black falcon logo. The colors were chosen to represent two rival college teams in Georgia: Georgia Tech (white and gold) and Georgia Bulldogs (red and black).

Over the years, the uniforms changed a few times. In 1990, the helmets became black. In 1997, the numbers on the white jerseys changed to red.

In 2003, both the logo and uniforms were redesigned. The new logo showed a more powerful falcon, which also looks like the letter "F". The uniforms got red and silver details. The team also started wearing black cleats.

For a while, the red jerseys became the main home jerseys, and black ones were alternates. The Falcons sometimes wore all-black uniforms for special games, especially against their rivals, the New Orleans Saints.

In 2016, the Falcons introduced an all-red "Color Rush" uniform. They also brought back a throwback uniform that looked like their 1960s outfits. In 2020, the Falcons changed their uniforms again. The main home jersey is now black, and the road jersey is white. Both have "ATL" written in red. They also had a special red and black "gradient" alternate uniform for a few seasons. The helmets are now matte black with a bigger falcon logo.

Starting in 2022, the Falcons brought back their original red helmets to wear with their throwback uniforms.

Rivalries

Divisional Rivals

New Orleans Saints

The Falcons have a strong rivalry with the New Orleans Saints. They have been in the same division for a long time. This rivalry is very important to both cities. The series between the two teams is very close.

Carolina Panthers

The Falcons also have a rivalry with the Carolina Panthers. Both teams were in the same division since the Panthers started in 1995. They often compete for the top spot in their division. This rivalry is sometimes called the "I-85 Rivalry" because Atlanta and Charlotte are close cities along Interstate 85. The Falcons have won more games in this series.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Falcons have a less intense rivalry with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. They became division rivals in 2002. Sometimes, the teams compete for players or staff.

Conference Rivals

Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles lead the series against the Falcons, especially in playoff games. This rivalry became more intense in the 2000s because of exciting quarterbacks like Donovan McNabb for the Eagles and Michael Vick for the Falcons.

Green Bay Packers

The Falcons and Green Bay Packers have a playoff rivalry. This started when the Falcons traded future Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre to the Packers in 1992. They have played four times in the playoffs. The Packers lead the overall series, but they are tied 2-2 in playoff games. Their last playoff meeting was the 2016 NFC Championship game, which was the final game played at the Georgia Dome.

Statistics

Single Game Records

• Most Rushing Yards: Michael Turner, 220 yards (September 7, 2008)
• Most Passing Yards: Kirk Cousins, 509 yards (October 3, 2024)
• Most Passing Touchdowns: Wade Wilson, 5 (December 13, 1992) and Matt Ryan, 5 (September 23, 2018)
• Most Receptions: William Andrews, 15 (September 15, 1981)
• Most Receiving Yards: Julio Jones, 300 yards (October 2, 2016)
• Most Interceptions: Several Falcons, 2, most recently Jessie Bates, 2 (September 10, 2023)
• Most Field Goals: Norm Johnson, 6 (November 13, 1994)
• Most Total Touchdowns: T. J. Duckett, 4 (December 12, 2004) and Michael Turner, 4 (November 23, 2008)
• Most Points Scored: T. J. Duckett, 24 (December 12, 2004) and Michael Turner, 24 (November 23, 2008)
• Most Sacks: Adrian Clayborn, 6 (November 13, 2017)

Single Season Records

• Most Passing Yards: 4,944 by Matt Ryan (2016)
• Most Passing Touchdowns: 38 by Matt Ryan (2016)
• Most Rushing Yards: 1,846 by Jamal Anderson (1998)
• Most Rushing Touchdowns: 17 by Michael Turner (2008)
• Most Receiving Catches: 136 by Julio Jones (2015)
• Most Receiving Yards: 1,871 by Julio Jones (2015)
• Most Receiving Touchdowns: 15 by Andre Rison (1993)
• Most Quarterback Sacks: 16.5 by John Abraham (2008)
• Most Field Goals Made: 34 by Matt Bryant (2016 and 2017)
• Most Points: 158 by Matt Bryant (2016)

Career Records

• Most Passing Yards: 51,186 by Matt Ryan (2008–2021)
• Most Passing Touchdowns: 321 by Matt Ryan (2008–2021)
• Most Rushing Yards: 6,631 by Gerald Riggs (1982–1988)
• Most Rushing Yards by a QB: 3,859 by Michael Vick (2001–2006)
• Most Rushing Touchdowns: 60 by Michael Turner (2008–2012)
• Most Receiving Catches: 808 by Roddy White (2005–2015)
• Most Receiving Yards: 12,125 by Julio Jones (2011–2020)
• Most Receiving Touchdowns: 63 by Roddy White (2005–2015)
• Most Quarterback Sacks: 68.5 by John Abraham (2006–2012)
• Most Field Goals Made: 224 by Matt Bryant (2009–2019)
• Most Points: 1,163 by Matt Bryant (2009–2019)
• Longest Field Goal: 59 yards by Morten Andersen (1995–2000, 2006–2007) and Matt Bryant (2009–2019)

Players

Pro Football Hall of Famers

These players are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame and played for the Falcons:

Ring of Honor

The Atlanta Falcons Ring of Honor celebrates important players and people from the team's history.

Coaching Staff

Head Coaches

Raheem Morris is the current Atlanta Falcons head coach.

The Atlanta Falcons have had 18 head coaches in their history. Some coaches served as "interim" coaches, meaning they took over for a short time.

Radio and Television

You can listen to Falcons games on their main radio station, WZGC 92.9 The Game. Wes Durham is the play-by-play announcer, and former Falcons quarterback Dave Archer gives comments during the game.

Preseason games are shown on WUPA, a local TV station. During the regular season, most Falcons games are on WAGA-TV (Fox). If the Falcons play a team from the AFC, the game might be on WANF (CBS). Sunday night games are on WXIA-TV (NBC).

Radio Affiliates in Georgia

Map of radio affiliates.

Images for kids

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  Falcons uniform: 1971–1989

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  Falcons uniform: 1997–2002

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  Falcons uniform: 2016–19, including the throwback edition

See also

In Spanish: Atlanta Falcons para niños