NFC East Division Championship (1980)

Lore & Background

In the 1980 season, after a nine-game winning streak, the Falcons posted a franchise then-best record of 12–4 and captured their first NFC West division title. The next week, their dream season ended at home with a loss to the Dallas Cowboys 30–27 in the divisional playoffs. The head coach in 1980 was Leeman Bennett.

In Their Own Story

The humid Georgia air hung heavy over Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium on an October afternoon. Fans in red and black watched intently as the offense struggled to find rhythm against a stiffer NFC West defense. There were no confetti cannons or division banners that year, only the quiet determination of a team rebuilding its identity amidst the league's toughest conference.

Reader's Guide

The Falcons have won division championships in 1980, 1998, 2004, 2010, 2012, and 2016. They have appeared in two Super Bowls: Super Bowl XXXIII (1998 season) and Super Bowl LI (2016 season). Their current home field is Mercedes-Benz Stadium, which opened for the 2017 season.

Did You Know?

• The Falcons were the 15th NFL franchise, awarded the first overall pick in the 1966 NFL draft.
• The team's nickname 'Falcons' was suggested by school teacher Julia Elliott from Griffin, Georgia.
• The Falcons are the oldest major professional sports team in America with no championships.