1966 Expansion Era
A franchise with a rich history and two Super Bowl appearances.
The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta. The Falcons compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the 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).
Quick Facts
- Division
- Eastern Conference (Coastal Division)
- First coach
- Norb Hecker
Lore & Background
The Falcons were founded on June 30, 1965, when NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle granted ownership to Rankin Smith Sr. The team was named the Falcons on August 29, 1965, after a suggestion by school teacher Julia Elliott. Their first head coach was Norb Hecker. The Falcons played their inaugural season in 1966, finishing 1–12–1. They won their first division title in 1980 and have appeared in two Super Bowls (Super Bowl XXXIII and Super Bowl LI), losing both.
Reader's Guide
The Falcons' current home field is Mercedes-Benz Stadium, which opened for the 2017 season. Their headquarters and practice facilities are located in Flowery Branch, Georgia. The team has won division championships in 1980, 1998, 2004, 2010, 2012, and 2016. Their all-time regular season record is 398–512–6, with a playoff record of 10–14.
Did You Know?
- The team's first victory came on November 20, 1966, against the New York Giants.
- The Falcons selected Tommy Nobis as their first-ever draft pick in 1966.
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