The Rising History of the Atlanta Falcons

In the NFL, there are quite a number of teams that have climbed the ladder of hope and kept pushing toward greatness no matter what—the Atlanta Falcons are one of them. Established in 1965, the team has evolved thoroughly, tasting both victories and defeats in the most dramatic way possible. Whether winning or losing though, one thing has been consistent: The fans always stick around—and in numbers too. And the players? They’re always proud to put on the shirt. In this article, we’ll dive into the incredible history of the Falcons—the highs, the lows, and the in-betweens, capturing everything that makes the Falcons who they are.

Founding Years and Early Struggles

The AFL first brought football to Atlanta’s shores in 1962 when they hosted two preseason contests: the Denver Broncos versus the Houston Oilers and the Dallas Texans against the Oakland Raiders. The AFL were working hard to secure a franchise in Atlanta. On June 8, 1965, they thought they had it in the bag when they awarded an expansion franchise to Atlanta. But the NFL wasn’t about to let that happen. Swinging into action immediately, the NFL forced the city to decide between the two leagues. Atlanta chose the NFL and with that, the franchise was born.

The name, Falcons was selected after a contest that was won by a schoolteacher from Griffin. She wrote, “The Falcon is proud and dignified, with great courage and fight. It never drops its prey. It is deadly and has a great sporting tradition.” Her words describe what it means to be a Falcon—courage and a daunting determination to fight.

But things didn’t quite work as planned in the Falcons’ early years. The team struggled to find their feet, registering five consecutive losing seasons. In 1971, the Falcons recorded their first winning season, but consistency remained a problem. In 1978, it seemed like they had figured it all out after earning a spot in the playoffs. Their playoff journey was cut short in the second game, however, as they lost to the Dallas Cowboys in the Divisional Round. But the good news for the Falcons was that the sparks were finally starting to show.

The Grits Blitz and the Rise of the Dirty Birds

Before the Falcons’ first playoff appearance in 1978, though, they had started to make a name for themselves. One of the things that forged an identity for them in the league was the Grits Blitz—the Falcons’ 1977 defense. The offense of that season wasn’t great, but the defense was absolutely ruthless. They were total showstoppers. The Grits Blitz gave up a mere 129 points all season, setting a record for the lowest total ever in a 14-game schedule.

The Falcons allowed only 1,384 passing yards, making their secondary the toughest in the league by a wide margin. And with just 3,242 total yards surrendered, they were among the NFL’s stingiest defenses that year. Much of the successes of the Grits Blitz can be attributed to defensive assistant Jerry Glanville, who installed the swarming style of play. In 1980, the Falcons laid hands on their first NFC West division title after ending the regular season with a then-franchise best of 12-4. But they were undone once again by the Cowboys.

During these years, the Falcons had a number of good players worth remembering but Hall of Famer Deion Sanders stands out as one of the most significant. Selected in the first round of the 1989 NFL Draft, Sanders made the team exciting on the pitch and on paper. Till today, many consider Sanders a human highlight reel as he brought an interesting mix of swagger, speed, and showmanship. Little wonder he was nicknamed, “Prime Time.”

Sanders did his bit but the Falcons enjoyed their best season in 1998 under head coach Dan Reeves, quarterback Chris Chandler, and running back Jamal Anderson. Nicknamed “Dirty Bird Falcons,” the team was absolutely incredible. They ended the season with a franchise-best 14-2 record, winning the NFC West division. They gave the Minnesota Vikings a run for their money in the NFC Championship Game, winning in overtime 30-27. In Super Bowl XXXIII, however, they suffered a 34-19 loss to the Broncos.

From Vick’s Magic to Ryan’s Heartbreak

In 2001, the Falcons traded for a pick that landed them Michael Vick. Vick took up the responsibility of completely transforming the team. He could outrun safeties, shake off linebackers, and launch 60-yard passes on the run. He was a game-changing quarterback—the kind that takes a team to insane heights. Although his time in Atlanta was shorter than anyone hoped, Vick made every moment count. In the 2002 season, he led the Falcons to a historic playoff upset, handing the Green Bay Packers their first-ever home playoff loss.

The 2016 Falcons had Matt Ryan running the show. Moving into the playoffs on the strength of an impressive 11-5 regular season record, they took down the Seattle Seahawks first. Next came the Packers in the NFC Championship Game but Atalanta proved unstoppable in what was their final game at the Georgia Dome. Advancing to Super Bowl LI with that fire, the Falcons stunned the Tom Brady-led New England Patriots, holding a 28-3 lead late in the third quarter. But somehow, the advantage the Falcons thought they had fell like a pack of cards.

A crucial fumble by Ryan midway through the fourth quarter gave the Patriots a golden opportunity, paving the way for them to erase the deficit and tie the game at 28. It was the greatest comeback in Super Bowl history and it left the Falcons shattered. In a game that saw the first-ever Super Bowl overtime, the Patriots sealed the deal, winning 34-28. A historic rally and Atlanta’s best shot at a Lombardi Trophy—gone in the blink of an eye.

More recently, the Falcons have failed to find a way to make things click. But they’re not giving up without a fight. As head coach Raheem Morris confirmed in a press conference, they are beginning to “evaluate everything.”

Team Achievements

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