Atlanta Falcons

The Atlanta Falcons are members of the NFL’s National Football Conference. The Falcons began play in the NFL in 1966 after being awarded an expansion franchise in 1965. Once Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium had been built during the 1960’s, interest in bringing a pro football team to Atlanta began to grow.  Eventually, the NFL awarded a team to the City of Atlanta in 1965. This decision came when it became obvious that the AFL was also interested in Atlanta as a location for an expansion franchise.

The new franchise adopted the name of the Falcons when Miss Julia Elliot, a schoolteacher, wrote to the football club with the suggestion. She stated that the falcon was a strong, proud bird that never dropped its prey, and also has a sporting tradition. The name was selected and has stuck with the franchise ever since.  

In 1978, the Falcons qualified for the post-season for the first time in club history and won their first playoff game before losing to the Dallas Cowboys in the second round. The Falcons have since made the NFL playoffs on five more occasions, including an appearance in Super Bowl XXXIII in 1998 where they lost to the Denver Broncos.

Unfortunately, the Falcons have had little sustained success as they did not string together consecutive winning seasons until 2009 and 2010. This span of forty three seasons since their inception without consecutive winning seasons is a record among all North American franchises in the four major sports.

In 1989, the Falcons drafted cornerback Deion Sanders who became a star and brought much needed attention to the football club. Sanders was known as a great cornerback and return man, as well as being known as a two-sport player -- he also played baseball for the Atlanta Braves.  Sanders played with the Falcons until 1993 and remains one of the franchise’s best known players.

Other star players who have spent time with the club include running back Jamal Anderson who was an integral part of the team’s 1998 Super Bowl run, and Quarterback Michael Vick who became the first QB to rush for 1,000 yards while with the Falcons. Unfortunately, Vick is best known for his infamous dog fighting ring for which he served prison time and which led to the Falcons releasing him in 2007.

In 1994, the Atlanta Falcons moved out of Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium and began playing their home games at the Georgia Dome.  This is where the club continues to host its home games as well as other events such as Super Bowls and even soccer games.