The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference (NFC) in the National Football League (NFL). The Falcons were founded on June 30, 1965, with the NFL awarding Atlanta a football team to prevent the franchise from joining the rival American Football League. NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle granted ownership of the team to businessman Rankin Smith, beginning play in the 1966 season as an expansion team. [1] [2] The name "Falcons" was suggested by high school teacher Julia Elliott through a 1965 contest. [3] Smith remained as the owner of the Falcons until his death in 1997, with ownership of the team then transferring to his son Taylor. Taylor Smith reached a preliminary agreement with businessman Arthur Blank to purchase the team on December 6, 2001. The sale was finalized on February 2, 2002, following a unanimous vote by NFL owners. [4] Since the team's inception, it has been based in Atlanta, playing their home games at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium since 2017. [5] They previously played home games at the Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium (1966–1991) and the Georgia Dome (1992–2016). [6] [7] The Falcons began play in the Eastern Conference of the NFL, before moving to the Coastal division in the Western Conference. Following the 1970 NFL realignment, the team moved to the NFC West division. [8] The team moved for the third and final time to the NFC South division following the 2002 NFL realignment. [9]
Over their 58 seasons in the NFL, the Falcons have accumulated a record of 390 wins, 503 losses, and 6 ties, which is the fifth-worst all-time regular season record among active franchises in terms of win–loss percentage. [10] They have also made the playoffs fourteen times and have the seventh-worst playoff record in terms of win-loss percentage with 10 wins and 14 losses. [10] The Falcons appeared in two Super Bowl championships—Super Bowl XXXIII and Super Bowl LI—losing to the Denver Broncos and the New England Patriots, respectively. The Falcons have won the NFC Championship twice and a division title six times, winning the NFC West twice (1978 and 1998) and the NFC South four times (2004, 2010, 2012 and 2016). [11] The team currently has seventeen winning seasons, four tied seasons, and thirty-six losing seasons. [12]
Super Bowl champions * | Conference champions # | Division champions† | Wild Card berth ^ |
Season | Team | League | Conference | Division | Regular season | Postseason results | Awards | Head coach | Refs. | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Finish | W | L | T | |||||||||
1966 | 1966 | NFL | Eastern | — | 7th | 3 | 11 | 0 | Tommy Nobis (DROY ) | Norb Hecker | [13] [14] | |
1967 | 1967 | NFL | Western | Coastal | 4th | 1 | 12 | 1 | [15] | |||
1968 | 1968 | NFL | Western | Coastal | 4th | 2 | 12 | 0 | Claude Humphrey (DROY ) | Norb Hecker (0–3) Norm Van Brocklin (2–9) | [16] [17] | |
1969 | 1969 | NFL | Western | Coastal | 3rd | 6 | 8 | 0 | Norm Van Brocklin | [18] | ||
1970 | 1970 | NFL | NFC | West [lower-alpha 1] | 3rd | 4 | 8 | 2 | [19] | |||
1971 | 1971 | NFL | NFC | West | 3rd | 7 | 6 | 1 | [20] | |||
1972 | 1972 | NFL | NFC | West | 2nd | 7 | 7 | 0 | [21] | |||
1973 | 1973 | NFL | NFC | West | 2nd | 9 | 5 | 0 | [22] | |||
1974 | 1974 | NFL | NFC | West | 4th | 3 | 11 | 0 | Norm Van Brocklin (2–6) Marion Campbell (1–5) | [23] | ||
1975 | 1975 | NFL | NFC | West | 3rd | 4 | 10 | 0 | Marion Campbell | [24] | ||
1976 | 1976 | NFL | NFC | West | 4th | 4 | 10 | 0 | Marion Campbell (1–4) Pat Peppler (3–6) | [25] | ||
1977 | 1977 | NFL | NFC | West | 2nd | 7 | 7 | 0 | Leeman Bennett | [26] | ||
1978 [lower-alpha 2] | 1978 | NFL | NFC | West | 2nd^ | 9 | 7 | 0 | Won Wild Card playoffs (Eagles) 14–13 Lost Divisional playoffs (at Cowboys) 20–27 | [28] | ||
1979 | 1979 | NFL | NFC | West | 3rd | 6 | 10 | 0 | [29] | |||
1980 | 1980 | NFL | NFC | West† | 1st† | 12 | 4 | 0 | Lost Divisional playoffs (Cowboys) 27–30 | Buddy Curry (Co-DROY ) Al Richardson (Co-DROY ) | [30] [31] | |
1981 | 1981 | NFL | NFC | West | 2nd | 7 | 9 | 0 | [32] | |||
1982 | 1982 | NFL | NFC | — [lower-alpha 3] | 5th^ [lower-alpha 3] | 5 | 4 | 0 | Lost First Round playoffs (at Vikings) 24–30 | [34] | ||
1983 | 1983 | NFL | NFC | West | 4th | 7 | 9 | 0 | Dan Henning | [35] | ||
1984 | 1984 | NFL | NFC | West | 4th | 4 | 12 | 0 | [36] | |||
1985 | 1985 | NFL | NFC | West | 4th | 4 | 12 | 0 | [37] | |||
1986 | 1986 | NFL | NFC | West | 3rd | 7 | 8 | 1 | [38] | |||
1987 [lower-alpha 4] | 1987 | NFL | NFC | West | 4th | 3 | 12 | 0 | Marion Campbell | [40] | ||
1988 | 1988 | NFL | NFC | West | 4th | 5 | 11 | 0 | [41] | |||
1989 | 1989 | NFL | NFC | West | 4th | 3 | 13 | 0 | Marion Campbell (3–9) Jim Hanifan (0–4) | [42] | ||
1990 | 1990 | NFL | NFC | West | 4th | 5 | 11 | 0 | Jerry Glanville | [43] | ||
1991 | 1991 | NFL | NFC | West | 2nd^ | 10 | 6 | 0 | Won Wild Card playoffs (at Saints) 27–20 Lost Divisional playoffs (at Redskins) 7–24 | [44] | ||
1992 | 1992 | NFL | NFC | West | 3rd | 6 | 10 | 0 | [45] | |||
1993 | 1993 | NFL | NFC | West | 3rd | 6 | 10 | 0 | [46] | |||
1994 | 1994 | NFL | NFC | West | 3rd | 7 | 9 | 0 | June Jones | [47] | ||
1995 | 1995 | NFL | NFC | West | 2nd^ | 9 | 7 | 0 | Lost Wild Card playoffs (at Packers) 20–37 | [48] | ||
1996 | 1996 | NFL | NFC | West | 4th | 3 | 13 | 0 | [49] | |||
1997 | 1997 | NFL | NFC | West | 3rd | 7 | 9 | 0 | Dan Reeves | [50] | ||
1998 | 1998 | NFL | NFC# | West† | 1st† | 14 | 2 | 0 | Won Divisional playoffs (49ers) 20–18 Won NFC Championship (at Vikings) 30–27 (OT) Lost Super Bowl XXXIII (vs. Broncos) 19–34 | Dan Reeves (COY ) | [51] [52] | |
1999 | 1999 | NFL | NFC | West | 3rd | 5 | 11 | 0 | [53] | |||
2000 | 2000 | NFL | NFC | West | 5th | 4 | 12 | 0 | [54] | |||
2001 | 2001 | NFL | NFC | West | 4th | 7 | 9 | 0 | [55] | |||
2002 | 2002 | NFL | NFC | South [lower-alpha 5] | 2nd^ | 9 | 6 | 1 | Won Wild Card playoffs (at Packers) 27–7 Lost Divisional playoffs (at Eagles) 6–20 | [56] | ||
2003 | 2003 | NFL | NFC | South | 4th | 5 | 11 | 0 | Dan Reeves (3–10) Wade Phillips (2–1) | [57] | ||
2004 | 2004 | NFL | NFC | South† | 1st† | 11 | 5 | 0 | Won Divisional playoffs (Rams) 47–17 Lost NFC Championship (at Eagles) 10–27 | Jim L. Mora | [58] | |
2005 | 2005 | NFL | NFC | South | 3rd | 8 | 8 | 0 | [59] | |||
2006 | 2006 | NFL | NFC | South | 3rd | 7 | 9 | 0 | [60] | |||
2007 | 2007 | NFL | NFC | South | 4th | 4 | 12 | 0 | Bobby Petrino (3–10) Emmitt Thomas (1–2) | [61] | ||
2008 | 2008 | NFL | NFC | South | 2nd^ | 11 | 5 | 0 | Lost Wild Card playoffs (at Cardinals) 24–30 | Matt Ryan (OROY ) Mike Smith (COY ) | Mike Smith | [62] [63] |
2009 | 2009 | NFL | NFC | South | 2nd | 9 | 7 | 0 | [64] | |||
2010 | 2010 | NFL | NFC | South† | 1st† | 13 | 3 | 0 | Lost Divisional playoffs (Packers) 21–48 | [65] | ||
2011 | 2011 | NFL | NFC | South | 2nd^ | 10 | 6 | 0 | Lost Wild Card playoffs (at Giants) 2–24 | [66] | ||
2012 | 2012 | NFL | NFC | South† | 1st† | 13 | 3 | 0 | Won Divisional playoffs (Seahawks) 30–28 Lost NFC Championship (49ers) 24–28 | [67] | ||
2013 | 2013 | NFL | NFC | South | 3rd | 4 | 12 | 0 | [68] | |||
2014 | 2014 | NFL | NFC | South | 3rd | 6 | 10 | 0 | [69] | |||
2015 | 2015 | NFL | NFC | South | 2nd | 8 | 8 | 0 | Dan Quinn | [70] | ||
2016 | 2016 | NFL | NFC# | South† | 1st† | 11 | 5 | 0 | Won Divisional playoffs (Seahawks) 36–20 Won NFC Championship (Packers) 44–21 Lost Super Bowl LI (vs. Patriots) 28–34 (OT) | Matt Ryan (MVP ), (OPOY ) | [71] [72] | |
2017 | 2017 | NFL | NFC | South | 3rd^ | 10 | 6 | 0 | Won Wild Card playoffs (at Rams) 26–13 Lost Divisional playoffs (at Eagles) 10–15 | [73] | ||
2018 | 2018 | NFL | NFC | South | 2nd | 7 | 9 | 0 | [74] | |||
2019 | 2019 | NFL | NFC | South | 2nd | 7 | 9 | 0 | [75] | |||
2020 | 2020 | NFL | NFC | South | 4th | 4 | 12 | 0 | Dan Quinn (0–5) Raheem Morris (4–7) | [76] | ||
2021 [lower-alpha 6] | 2021 | NFL | NFC | South | 3rd | 7 | 10 | 0 | Arthur Smith | [78] | ||
2022 | 2022 | NFL | NFC | South | 4th | 7 | 10 | 0 | [79] | |||
2023 | 2023 | NFL | NFC | South | 3rd | 7 | 10 | 0 | [80] | |||
Totals | 390 | 503 | 6 | All-time regular season record (1966–2023) | ||||||||
10 | 14 | — | All-time postseason record (1966–2023) | |||||||||
400 | 517 | 6 | All-time regular & postseason record (1966–2023) |
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in the Phoenix metropolitan area. The Cardinals compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) West division, and play their home games at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, a suburb northwest of Phoenix.
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).
The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Panthers compete in the National Football League (NFL), as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) South division. The team is headquartered in Bank of America Stadium in Uptown Charlotte; which also serves as the team's home field. The Panthers are supported throughout the Carolinas; although the team has played its home games in Charlotte since 1996, it played its home games at Memorial Stadium in Clemson, South Carolina, during its first season in 1995.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football team based in Tampa, Florida. The Buccaneers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) South division. The club joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team, along with the Seattle Seahawks, and played its first season in the American Football Conference (AFC) West division.
Jerry Lee Rice is an American former professional football wide receiver who played for 20 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He won three Super Bowl titles with the San Francisco 49ers before two shorter stints at the end of his career with the Oakland Raiders and Seattle Seahawks. Nicknamed "World" because of his superb catching ability, his accomplishments and numerous records, Rice is widely regarded as the greatest wide receiver of all time and one of the greatest players in NFL history. His biography on the official Pro Football Hall of Fame website names him "the most prolific wide receiver in NFL history with staggering career totals". In 1999, The Sporting News listed Rice second behind Jim Brown on its list of "Football's 100 Greatest Players". In 2010, he was chosen by NFL Network's NFL Films production The Top 100: NFL's Greatest Players as the greatest player in NFL history.
Kyle Michael Shanahan is an American football coach who is the head coach for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL). He came to prominence as the offensive coordinator for the Atlanta Falcons, whose offense in 2016 led the league in points scored and helped the team reach Super Bowl LI. Shanahan became the head coach of the 49ers the following season, whom he has led to three division titles, four postseason appearances, four NFC Championship Game appearances, and two Super Bowl appearances.
Stylez G. White is a former American football defensive end. He was selected by the Houston Texans in the seventh round of the 2002 NFL draft. He played college football at Minnesota.
Arthur William Smith is an American football coach who is the offensive coordinator for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). He previously served as the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons from 2021 to 2023 and as an assistant coach for the Tennessee Titans during the 2010s.