Atlanta Falcons - Definition and Overview

The Atlanta Falcons are a National Football League team based in Atlanta, Georgia.

Founded: June 30, 1965; played first game in 1966

Home stadium: Georgia Dome

Team colors: Home jerseys are red and white with white letters and black trim. Away jerseys are white with black letters and red trim.

Helmet design: Black with a black face mask and a red and black falcon logo white a grey and white border on both sides, which forms the shape of an F.

Championships won: The Falcons won the NFC West Championship in 1980 and 1998, the NFC South championship in 2004, and the NFC championship in 1998 (they also finished with the best record among the four NFC West teams in 1982, but the division standings for that year were used only for the purposes of determining the 1983 regular-season schedules, this being one of the indirect consequences of the 57-day 1982 players' strike).

Franchise history

Timeline / Important Years

• 1965 - The Atlanta Falcons are born. NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle, grants ownership to Rankin M. Smith Sr.
• 1966 - The Falcons play their first NFL season.
• 1971 - The Falcons finish with a winning record, 7-6-1.
• 1972 - The Falcons finish second in the NFC West - their highest division finish in franchise history up to that point.
• 1977 - The Falcons defense sets an NFL record for the fewest points allowed in a 14 game season, 129.
• 1978 - The Falcons make the playoffs for the first time, and beat visiting Philadelphia Eagles, but lose to the Dallas Cowboys in Dallas.
• 1980 - Another playoff berth for the Falcons, as they win the NFC West, but again lose to the Dallas Cowboys in the playoffs.
• 1982 - The Falcons make the playoffs in this strike-shortened season with a record of 5-4, and lose to the Minnesota Vikings in Minnesota.
• 1992 - The Georgia Dome becomes the new home for the Atlanta Falcons, as they move from the Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium.
• 1995 - In the final game of the season, the Falcons beat the San Francisco 49ers to secure a playoff spot. They go on to lose to the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field.
• 1998 - The greatest season for the Atlanta Falcons. On November 8, they won 41-10 at New England, snapping a streak of 22 consecutive losses at cold-weather sites vs. New York Giants
• 2004 - Win NFC South, advance to NFC Championship game before falling to Philadelphia Eagles.

First Monday Night Football game in Atlanta: Nov. 30, 1970 vs. Miami Dolphins

Players of note

Pro Football Hall of Famers: No Falcons' players have been elected to the Hall of Fame.

Current stars:

• Keith Brooking
• Michael Vick
• Patrick Kerney
• Warrick Dunn
• Alge Crumpler
• T.J. Duckett

Retired numbers:

• 31 William Andrews
• 57 Jeff Van Note
• 60 Tommy Nobis
• 10 Steve Bartkowski

Not to be forgotten:

• Mike Kenn
• Jessie Tuggle
• Billy "White Shoes" Johnson
• Deion Sanders
• Jamal Anderson
• Chris Miller
• Bill Fralic
• Andre Rison
• Eugene Robinson

Atlanta Falcons official web site (http://www.atlantafalcons.com/)