ONE
Ranked as the 15th most valuable franchise in the league - and playing at a stadium that cost over $1.5 billion to build - owner Arthur Blank’s Atlanta Falcons have appeared in two Super Bowls in franchise history, losing them both. However, long before their devastating losses in the sport’s biggest game, the Atlanta Falcons were founded in 1965 when the NFL awarded a franchise to the city of Atlanta and Rankin M. Smith, for $8.5 million. The name ‘Falcons’, suggested by many, was soon picked as the new football team’s name.
Mercedes-Benz Stadium
TWO
The Falcons sold 45,000 season tickets in the space of 54 days as the excitement for an NFL football team in Atlanta boiled over. With the first pick in the 1966 NFL Draft, the Falcons selected linebacker Tommy Nobis, who would stay with the team for his entire career. Norb Hecker was hired as the team’s first-ever head coach, and the Falcons played their first game against the Los Angeles Rams in 1966 - losing 19-14. They recorded their first win in Week 11, defeating the New York Giants 27-16, but after winning just four games in his first two seasons, Hecker was replaced by Norm Van Brocklin four games into the 1968 season.
THREE
Atlanta’s first winning season came in 1971 - finishing the year 7-6-1, but they soared to new heights in 1973 when they posted a 9-5 record. The Falcons returned to the bottom of the division in 1974 - earning the third overall selection in the 1975 NFL Draft. Atlanta traded the third pick to the Baltimore Colts, moving up to obtain the number one overall pick - as the team had set their sights on a franchise-altering quarterback. The Falcons selected quarterback Steve Bartkowski first overall, a player who, after early struggles, would change the team’s fortunes and set franchise records in all major passing categories.
Steve Bartkowski, Quarterback 1975-1985
FOUR
Steve Bartkowski led the Falcons to their first-ever playoff appearance, and win, in 1978 alongside head coach Leeman Bennett. In fact, the pair helped Atlanta reach the postseason in two of the next four seasons - the 1980 season, however, was one of the team’s greatest. Finishing the year with a 12-4 record, and winning their first-ever division title, the 1980 side featured six Pro Bowlers, including their quarterback Bartkowski, and running back William Andrews. However, following their Wild Card Round loss in the 1982 season, Atlanta didn’t return to the postseason for the remainder of the decade.
FIVE
Cornerback Deion ‘Prime Time’ Sanders was drafted by Atlanta in 1989 and headlined a team of spirited personalities behind vibrant head coach Jerry Glanville. Sanders, flamboyance on and off the field filled the void left by the departed Steve Bartkowski as their franchise player - whilst also playing Major League Baseball. The 1991, or ‘2 Legit 2 Quit’ Falcons - named after the MC Hammer song - won the franchise’s first playoff game since the 1978 season - thanks to Sanders, quarterback Chris Miller and receiver Andre Rison, but the team fell to Washington in the Divisional Round. The Falcons then moved into the luxurious Georgia Dome ahead of the 1992 season - ending their 26-year stay at the Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium.
Deion Sanders, Cornerback 1989-1993
SIX
Following Deion Sanders’ departure for the San Francisco 49ers in 1994, Atlanta made the postseason in 1995. 1998, however, saw the team experience one of their greatest-ever seasons. Head coach Dan Reeves led the Falcons to 14 wins in the regular season - which is still a franchise record. Atlanta appeared on the brink of ending decades of playoff disappointment when his team, featuring quarterback Chris Chandler and running back Jamal Anderson, upset the high-powered Minnesota Vikings in the NFC Championship Game. However, it wasn’t to be for the Falcons in Super Bowl XXXIII, as they fell to the Denver Broncos, 34-19.
SEVEN
Following the success of their first Super Bowl appearance, the Falcons fell to 5-11 and 4-12 in the next two seasons. After finalising a trade with the San Diego Chargers, Atlanta drafted quarterback Michael Vick first overall in 2001 - a player highly regarded for his running abilities who transformed the quarterback position, paving the way for stars like Lamar Jackson. In 2002, Arthur Blank - co-founder of Home Depot - purchased the Falcons from Taylor Smith for $545 million. A new era beckoned. After Vick learned from veteran Chris Chandler in his rookie season, the young quarterback took over as the starter in 2002, when he was hailed as an improvisational genius and helped the Falcons back into the playoffs. The Vick-led team even delivered the storied Green Bay Packers their first-ever home playoff loss in the Wild Card Round, but the Falcons season came to an end one week later at the hands of the Philadelphia Eagles.
Arthur Blank, Owner 2002-Present
EIGHT
Michael Vick returned in 2004 under new head coach Jim Mora to help the Falcons reach the NFC Championship Game - but not before signing Vick to the biggest contract in league history, a 10-year deal worth up to $130 million. In 2006, Vick became the first quarterback to rush for more than 1,000 yards in a season, with 1,039. However, ahead of the 2007 season, he was suspended by the NFL after his involvement with a dog fighting ring. Vick was officially cut from the roster and handed a 23-month prison sentence. Following a bleak season, the Falcons hit reset in 2008, hiring Mike Smith as head coach and drafting quarterback Matt Ryan third overall. The duo helped Atlanta to four playoff appearances in the next five seasons, with the pair being joined by electric wide receiver Julio Jones in 2011.
Matt Ryan, Quarterback 2008-2021
NINE
After missing the playoffs in the 2013 and 2014 seasons, Mike Smith was fired and replaced by Dan Quinn. When the team’s high-powered offense helped Matt Ryan become the first league MVP in Falcons history, Atlanta made their way back to the Super Bowl. In Super Bowl LI, they led the New England Patriots 28-3 in the third quarter - but New England scored 31 unanswered points to complete the largest comeback in Super Bowl history. Atlanta has reached the postseason just once since that devastating defeat. The Falcons moved into the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in 2017 - complete with its retractable roof. Despite the new stadium, Quinn was fired part-way through the 2020 season, Julio Jones left in 2021 and Ryan - the team’s all-time leading passer - moved on in 2022. Now a young team - featuring tight end Kyle Pitts, receiver Drake London and running back Bijan Robinson - and led by veteran QB Kirk Cousins and head coach Raheem Morris look to get the team back into playoff contention.
Kyle Pitts, Tight End 2021-Present
BEFORE YOU GO
The "Dirty Bird" dance became popular during the Falcons' 1998 season, thanks to running back Jamal Anderson. It has since become a symbol of the team's spirit and is often performed by fans and players.
The Falcons' most significant rivalries are with the New Orleans Saints, Carolina Panthers, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers - all of whom are part of the NFC South division. The rivalry with the Saints is particularly intense and is often referred to as one of the best rivalries in the NFL.
According to Forbes, the Atlanta Falcons net worth is estimated at $4.7 billion as of 2023.
