Monday Night Football Debut (1966)

Lore & Background

The Falcons had their first Monday Night Football game in Atlanta during the 1970 season, a 20–7 loss to the Miami Dolphins.

In Their Own Story

The humid Georgia night air buzzed with anticipation as floodlights illuminated the grass of Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium. Fans in white and black cheered for their new heroes, unaware that this broadcast would become a rite of passage for NFL expansion teams. As Y.A. Tittle took the field, the weight of national scrutiny settled on his shoulders. The game unfolded with the Cowboys dominating possession, leaving the Falcons to fight valiantly but ultimately falling short in a scoreless defensive struggle that defined their early identity.

Reader's Guide

The Falcons' current home field is Mercedes-Benz Stadium, which opened for the 2017 season; the team's headquarters and practice facilities are located at a 50-acre (20 ha) site in Flowery Branch, northeast of Atlanta in Hall County.

Did You Know?

• The Falcons were founded on June 30, 1965, after the NFL offered then-owner Rankin Smith a franchise to keep him from joining the rival AFL.
• The Falcons have appeared in two Super Bowls: Super Bowl XXXIII (1998 season) and Super Bowl LI (2016 season), losing both.
• The Falcons are the oldest major professional sports team in America with no championships.