The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta. The Falcons compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) South division. The Falcons were founded on June 30, 1965, and joined the NFL in 1966 as an expansion team, after the NFL offered then-owner Rankin Smith a franchise to keep him from joining the rival American Football League (AFL).
Christopher John Doleman was an American football defensive end who played in the National Football League (NFL). He spent the majority of his career with the Minnesota Vikings, and also played for the Atlanta Falcons and the San Francisco 49ers. Doleman was an eight-time Pro Bowl selection and a twice first-team All-Pro, recording 150.5 career sacks. He is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame class of 2012.
Henry Louis Jones is an American former professional football player who was a safety in the National Football League (NFL). He played for the Buffalo Bills (1991–2000), the Minnesota Vikings (2001), and the Atlanta Falcons (2002).
Keith Rowen is an American football coach. He served as the offensive coordinator for the Arizona Cardinals in 2005 until he was fired in October 2006 the day after the Cardinals lost to the Bears after leading by 20 points. He then moved to Atlanta, where he was the Falcons' tight end coach for the 2007 season, before moving to San Francisco for an office job with the Oakland Raiders.
James DeAndre Jones is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the San Jose State Spartans and was selected by the Green Bay Packers in the third round of the 2007 NFL Draft. With the Packers, he helped them win Super Bowl XLV over the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was also a member of the Oakland Raiders. He is an NFL Network analyst.
Quintorris Lopez "Julio" Jones Jr. is an American football wide receiver who is a free agent. He played college football for the Alabama Crimson Tide, and was selected by the Atlanta Falcons in the first round of the 2011 NFL draft. He is regarded as one of the greatest receivers of the 2010s.
Bradley Scott Beckman was an American football tight end in the National Football League (NFL) for the New York Giants and the Atlanta Falcons. He played college football at the University of Nebraska at Omaha and was drafted in the seventh round of the 1988 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings. Beckman was killed when the car he was a passenger in bumped a car in front of it and then lost control and was hit broadside by a truck. The accident was on I-85 near Lilburn in icy conditions on December 18, 1989, nearly two weeks before Beckman's 25th birthday. His death was the second one for the Falcons that year, and the third in the space of two years. Four weeks prior, offensive tackle Ralph Norwood died in a separate traffic collision; a year before, cornerback David Croudip died of a cocaine overdose. At the time of his death, the Falcons had played 15 out of 16 games in the season. Beckman had played in all 15 games for the Falcons up to that point, starting in two of them.
Jordan Keith Tandy is a former American football safety and coach who is currently coaching with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He was selected by the Buccaneers in the sixth round of the 2012 NFL Draft. He played college football at West Virginia.
Victor Ramon Beasley Jr. is an American football linebacker for the Arlington Renegades of the United Football League (UFL). After playing college football for Clemson University, Beasley was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons with the eighth overall pick in the 2015 NFL draft.
Alton Keith Smith Jr. is an American football fullback who is a free agent. He played college football at San Jose State.
Grady Jarrett is an American football defensive end for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Clemson.
Calvin Orin Ridley is an American football wide receiver for the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Alabama, where he was a part of the national championship-winning teams in 2015 and 2017. Drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the first round of the 2018 NFL draft, he was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team and earned second-team All-Pro honors in 2020.
Austin Manuel Hooper is an American football tight end for the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Stanford, and was selected by the Atlanta Falcons in the third round of the 2016 NFL draft.
Deion Jones is an American football linebacker for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at LSU, and was selected by Atlanta Falcons in the second round of the 2016 NFL draft.
Ronald Jones II is an American football running back who is a free agent. He played college football for the USC Trojans, where he finished his college career with over 3,600 rushing yards over three seasons before being selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the second round of the 2018 NFL draft.
Russell Gage Jr. is an American football wide receiver who is a free agent. He played college football at LSU, and was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the sixth round of the 2018 NFL draft.
Stanley David Clayton is a former American football guard and tackle and is currently the offensive coordinator and offensive line coach for the Benedict Tigers. He played for the Atlanta Falcons from 1988 to 1989 and for the New England Patriots in 1990 and 1991. He was drafted by the Falcons in the tenth round of the 1988 NFL Draft.
Kyle Anthony Pitts is an American football tight end for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Florida, where he was named a unanimous All-American and won the John Mackey Award in 2020.
Drake London is an American football wide receiver for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at USC and was selected eighth overall by the Falcons in the 2022 NFL draft.
