Freddie Falcon
Rise Up — Atlanta's NFL team since 1966.
The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta. They compete in the NFL as a member of the NFC South division. The Falcons were founded on June 30, 1965, and joined the NFL in 1966 as an expansion team.
Quick Facts
- Role
- Official Mascot
- Affiliation
- Atlanta Falcons (NFL)
Lore & Background
The Falcons have compiled a record of 389–503–6 in the regular season and 10–14 in the playoffs, winning division championships in 1980, 1998, 2004, 2010, 2012, and 2016. They have appeared in two Super Bowls: Super Bowl XXXIII (1998 season) lost to the Denver Broncos 34–19, and Super Bowl LI lost to the New England Patriots 34–28 in overtime.
Reader's Guide
The team's current home field is Mercedes-Benz Stadium, which opened for the 2017 season. Headquarters and practice facilities are located in Flowery Branch, Georgia. The franchise was named 'Falcons' after a suggestion by Miss Julia Elliott of Griffin, Georgia, on August 29, 1965.
Did You Know?
- The Falcons were the 15th NFL franchise, awarded to Rankin Smith Sr. for $8.5 million in 1965.
- Their first overall draft pick in 1966 was linebacker Tommy Nobis from the University of Texas.
- The team's first victory came on November 20, 1966, against the New York Giants.
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