Atlanta Falcons
Current season
Established 1965 Play in Georgia Dome Atlanta, Georgia Headquartered in Flowery Branch, Georgia
Logo
League/conference affiliations
National Football League (1966–present) Eastern Conference (1966) Western Conference (1967–1969) Coastal Division (1967–1969) National Football Conference (1970–present) NFC West (1970–2001) NFC South (2002–present)
Current uniform
Team colors	Red, Black, White, Silver
Mascot	Freddie Falcon
Personnel
Owner(s)	Arthur Blank (90%) State of Georgia(10%)[citation needed]
CEO	Rich McKay
President	Rich McKay
General manager	Thomas Dimitroff
Head coach	Mike Smith
Team history
Atlanta Falcons (1966–present)
Championships
League championships (0)
Conference championships (1) NFC: 1998
Division championships (5) NFC West: 1980, 1998 NFC South: 2004, 2010, 2012
Playoff appearances (12)
NFL: 1978, 1980, 1982, 1991, 1995, 1998, 2002, 2004, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012
Home fields
Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium (1966–1991) known as Atlanta Stadium (1966–1976) Georgia Dome (1992–2016) New Falcons Stadium (2017–future) (estimated)

The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference (NFC) in the National Football League (NFL). The Falcons play their home games at the Georgia Dome in downtown Atlanta, but construction is likely to begin in 2014 on a new stadium with play beginning in the 2017 season. Their headquarters and practice facilities are located at a 50-acre site in Flowery Branch, Georgia.[1] The Falcons joined the NFL in 1965[2] 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). The AFL instead granted a franchise to Miami, Florida (the Miami Dolphins). In their 45 years of existence, the Falcons have compiled a record of 312–402–6 with division championships in 1980, 1998, 2004, 2010 and 2012. Their only Super Bowl appearance was during the 1998 season in Super Bowl XXXIII.
Over the past five years, the Falcons, under General Manager Thomas Dimitroff, Head Coach Mike Smith, and Quarterback Matt Ryan, have been one of the best franchises in the NFC. Since the start of the 2008 season, the Falcons have recorded five consecutive winning seasons for the first time in franchise history. They led the NFC in number of wins during that period with 57. Mike Smith’s 56–24 regular-season record in that span is the fifth-best in the league.[3] The Falcons had the NFL's second best winning percentage at home during the period of 2008 to 2010 with a .833 percentage. The Falcons have qualified for the playoffs four times (2008, 2010, 2011, 2012) during this period, losing the first three, but won their most recent playoff game in 2013, which was their first playoff victory since 2005.[4]

Ownership
The Atlanta Falcons Football Team is owned by business man Arthur Blank, and eight limited partners.[5] Arthur Blank who purchased the team on February 2002 owns 90% of the franchise and the eight limited partners own the remaining 10% of the franchise.[6][7]

Limited Partners
The limited partners are individuals who have invested in the team since 2002 under Blank’s ownership. The current limited partners are Ronald E. Canakaris; Warrick Dunn; Douglas J. Hertz; John P. Imlay, Jr.; Ed Mendel; Derek V. Smith; John A. Williams and Brian J. Barker.

Board of Advisers
The Atlanta Falcons Adviser Board is made up of eleven members: Arthur M. Blank, Henry L. “Hank” Aaron, Steve Bartkowski, Glenda Hatchett, David E. Homrich, Felker W. Ward, Jr., Carl Ware, Bill Bolling, Dr. Robert M. Franklin, Ingrid Saunders Jones and Andrew Young (Ambassador).

Executive Committee
As of 2011 the Atlanta Falcons Executive Committee consisted of ten people: Arthur Blank, Owner and Chairman; Rich McKay, President & CEO; Thomas Dimitroff, General Manager; Kim Shreckengost, Executive Vice President/Chief of Staff for AMB Group, LLC; Greg Beadles, Senior Vice President – Chief Financial Officer; Jim Smith, Chief Marketing Officer; Danny Branch, Vice President of Information Technology; Dave Cohen, Vice President of Sales and Service; Reggie Roberts, Vice President of Football Communications and Tim Zulawski, VP of Sponsorship Sales and Service.

Franchise history
For more details on this topic, see History of the Atlanta Falcons.
In 1965, after a stadium (Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium), was built, the city of Atlanta felt the time was right to start pursuing professional football. One independent group which had been active in NFL exhibition promotions in Atlanta applied for franchises in both the American Football League and the NFL, acting entirely on its own with no guarantee of stadium rights. Another group reported it had deposited earnest money for a team in the AFL.[8]
With everyone running in different directions, some local businessmen worked out a deal and were awarded an AFL franchise on June 7, 1965, contingent upon acquiring exclusive stadium rights from city officials. NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle, who had been moving slowly in Atlanta matters, was spurred by the AFL interest and headed on the next plane down to Atlanta to block the rival league's claim on the city of Atlanta.[2] He forced the city to make a choice between the two leagues. By June 30, the city picked Rankin Smith and the NFL.
The Atlanta Falcons franchise began on June 30, 1965 when NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle granted ownership to 41 year-old Rankin Smith Sr.. Smith an Executive Vice President of Life Insurance Company of Georgia at the time, paid $8.5 million the highest price in NFL history at the time 1965 for an NFL franchise.[2] Former commissioner Pete Rozelle and Smith made the deal in about five minutes and the Atlanta Falcons brought the largest and most popular sport to the city of Atlanta. The Atlanta expansion franchise became the 15th NFL franchise, and they were awarded the first pick in the 1966 NFL Draft as well as the final pick in each of the first five rounds.[9] The Falcons drafted All-American LinebackerTommy Nobis from the University of Texas with the first pick of the draft, making him the first-ever Falcon. The league also held the 1966 NFL Expansion Draft six weeks later in which the Falcons selected unprotected players from existing franchises. Although the Falcons selected many good players in those drafts, they still were not able to win right away.[2]
The Atlanta Falcons Football Club received its nickname on August 29, 1965. Miss Julia Elliott, a school teacher from Griffin, Georgia was singled out from many people who suggested "Falcons" as the Nickname for the new Georgia NFL franchise. She said: “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.”[10]

Notable Seasons
1966 – 1977: The Beginning
The Falcons had their first season in 1966, and their first preseason game on August 1, 1966, losing to the Philadelphia Eagles. Under Head Coach Norb Hecker they lost their first nine regular-season games in 1966 and secured their first victory on the road against the New York Giants. The team finished the 1960s with only 12 wins. The Falcons had their first Monday Night Football game in Atlanta during the 1970 season. The 1971 season was their first with a winning record.

1978 – 1980: The Playoffs
In the 1978 season, the Falcons qualified for the playoffs for the first time and won the Wild Card game against the Philadelphia Eagles 14–13. The following week, they lost to the Dallas Cowboys 27–20 in the Divisional Playoffs.
In 1980, 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 Cowboys 30–27 in the divisional playoffs. In the strike-shortened 1988 season, the Falcons made the playoffs but lost to the Minnesota Vikings, 30–24. Falcons coach Leeman Bennett was fired after the loss.

1989
In 1989, the Falcons drafted CB Deion Sanders in the first round, who helped them for the next four years, setting many records for the franchise. "Neon Deion" (a.k.a. "Prime Time") had a flashy appeal and helped bring media attention to one of the league's most anonymous franchises. Sanders was also famous for playing on major league baseball teams (the New York Yankees and the Atlanta Braves) while simultaneously playing in the NFL.

1991 – 1992
The Falcons' 1991 season ended in a divisional playoff loss to the Washington Redskins. In 1991, the Falcons drafted Brett Favre as the thirty-third overall pick. During his rookie season, he played in two games where he amassed a record of 5 passing attempts with 0 receptions and 2 interceptions. The following February, Favre was traded to the Green Bay Packers.
In 1992, the Atlanta Falcons opened a new chapter in their history moving into the newly constructed Georgia Dome.
1997 – 2000: The Dan Reeves Era

1998
Main article: 1998 Atlanta Falcons season
In 1998, under recently acquired head coach Dan Reeves, quarterback Chris Chandler and running back Jamal Anderson the "Dirty Bird" Falcons had their greatest season to date. On November 8, they beat the New England Patriots 41–10, ending a streak of 22 losses at cold-weather sites. The team finished with a franchise-best 14–2 regular season record and the NFC West division championship. On January 18, 1999, the Falcons upset the top-seeded Vikings at Minnesota in the NFC Championship Game 30–27, in an exciting overtime victory. However, in their first-ever Super Bowl appearance, they lost 34–19 to the defending champion Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XXXIII.

1999
Main article: 1999 Atlanta Falcons season
In the second game of the Falcons 1999 season, running back Jamal Anderson, who had been a key player in the Falcons' 1998 success, suffered a season-ending knee injury. The Falcons finished the season with a very disappointing 5–11 regular season record.[2]

2000
Main article: 2000 Atlanta Falcons season
In 2000, the Falcons suffered through another horrendous season finishing 4–12 and once again missing the playoffs.
2001 – 2006: The Michael Vick era
In the 2001 NFL Draft, the Falcons orchestrated a trade with the San Diego Chargers, acquiring the first overall pick (which was used on quarterback Michael Vick) in exchange for wide receiver / return specialist Tim Dwight and the fifth overall pick (used on running back LaDainian Tomlinson).

2001
Main article: 2001 Atlanta Falcons season
The Falcons finished the 2001 season with a record of 7–9 and missed the playoffs. Longtime fan favorite LB Jessie Tuggle retired following 14 seasons in Atlanta. On December 6, 2001, Arthur M. Blank, the co-founder and retired co-chairman of Atlanta-based Home Depot, reached a preliminary agreement with the Falcons’ Taylor Smith to purchase the team. In a special meeting prior to Super Bowl XXXVI in New Orleans on February 2, 2002, NFL owners voted unanimously to approve the purchase.[11]

2002
Main article: 2002 Atlanta Falcons season
The Atlanta Falcons began the Arthur Blank era of ownership with a 9–6–1 record and a berth in the playoffs as a Wild Card participant. Blank helped resurrect the excitement in the Georgia Dome with added value to the fans with increased tailgating, parking, and entertainment and lower ticket prices. Every game during the 2002 season was sold out. After beginning the season at 1–3, head coach Dan Reeves and quarterback Michael Vick led the Falcons to an NFL-best eight-game unbeaten streak (7–0–1). The Falcons finished off the season with a team-record 23 rushing touchdowns and a franchise-best eight games with 30 or more points. Linebacker Keith Brooking set a Falcons career-high with 212 total tackles.
Vick saw minimal playing time in 2001, playing backup and learning the system under then-starting quarterback Chris Chandler, and was designated starting quarterback for the 2002 season. The 2002 season was the Falcons' first in the more geographically-accurate NFC South upon NFL realignment. In 2002, Vick set many records and supplied the media with numerous highlights for the season, including rushing for 173 yards in an overtime win at Minnesota, the highest ever single-game rushing total for an NFL quarterback (surpassed only in post-season play by Colin Kaepernick in 2013—Vick's footwear from this game are currently enshrined in the NFL Hall of Fame). The Falcons became the first team in NFL history to claim a playoff win over the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field, beating them 27–7.[12][13] Their season ended with a loss to Donovan McNabb and the Philadelphia Eagles 20–6 in the NFC divisional playoffs.[2] Michael Vick and Keith Brooking were elected to the NFC Pro Bowl for their performances in the 2002 regular season.[14]

2003
Main article: 2003 Atlanta Falcons season
On March 19, 2003, the Falcons presented their new logo.[15] During the 2003 preseason Michael Vick broke his leg and missed the first twelve games of the season. After losing 7 straight games, the decision was made to release head coach Dan Reeves. Wade Phillips acted as interim coach for the final 3 games. Although the Falcons won 3 of their last 4 games after the return of Michael Vick, they ended up with a dismal 5–11 record that year.

2004
Main article: 2004 Atlanta Falcons season
In 2004, a new head coach, Jim L. Mora, was hired and Michael Vick returned for the full season. The Falcons went 11–5, winning their third division title and earning a first-round bye into the playoffs. In the divisional playoffs, the Falcons defeated the St. Louis Rams 47–17 in the Georgia Dome, advancing to the NFC Championship, which they lost to the Eagles 27–10.

2005
Main article: 2005 Atlanta Falcons season
The Falcons again fell short of achieving back-to-back winning seasons in 2005, going 8–8.

2006
Main article: 2006 Atlanta Falcons season
In 2006, Michael Vick became the first quarterback in league history to rush for more than 1,000 yards in a season, with 1,039. After finishing the season 7–9, however, coach Jim Mora was dismissed and Bobby Petrino, the University of Louisville's football coach, replaced him. Before the 2007 season began, Vick was suspended indefinitely by the NFL after pleading guilty to charges involving dog fighting in the state of Virginia. On December 10, 2007, Vick received a 23-month prison sentence and was officially cut from the Atlanta roster.

2007: The Lost Year
Main article: 2007 Atlanta Falcons season
For the 2007 season, the Falcons were forced to start Joey Harrington at quarterback. On December 11, 13 games into his first NFL season as head coach, Bobby Petrino resigned without notice to coach at the University of Arkansas, leaving the beleaguered players only a note in the locker room. Secondary Coach Emmitt Thomas was named interim coach for the final three games of the season on December 12. The Falcons ended the year with a dismal 4–12 record.

2008 – Present: Mike Smith/Matt Ryan era
After the tumultuous and disappointing 2007 season, the Falcons made a number of moves, hiring a new General Manager and head coach, drafting a new starting quarterback, and signing a starting running back.