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The
Atlanta Falcons were founded on June 30,
1965 and are owned by Rankin M. Smith Sr.
The Falcons is a National Football League
team that is based in Atlanta, Georgia. The
team got it's name after a fan contest was
held and the team received more than 1,300
entries suggesting 558 different names.
Although several entries in a fan contest
suggested Falcons, a schoolteacher was
declared the winner because of her reason
“…the falcon is proud and dignified with
great courage and fight.” The Atlanta
Falcons is one of four teams that play in
the South Division of National Football
Conference. |
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The Falcons joined the NFL as an
expansion team in 1966. In 1971, the
Falcons recorded their first winning
season (7-6-1) under fiery Coach Norm
Van Brocklin. In 1973, they finished
with a 9-5 mark, a new team high. The
1977 team under new coach Leeman Bennett
established an NFL team mark that still
stands by allowing just 129 total points
in a 14-game season. Bennett then led
the Falcons to the playoffs three times
in a five-year span between 1978 and
1982. In 1980, the Falcons won the
National Football Conference (NFC)
Western Division title with a
club-record 12 wins and six Pro Bowl
stars, including quarterback Steve
Bartkowski and running back William
Andrews. |
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In
addition to Bartkowski, Nobis and Andrews,
such stars as defensive end Claude Humphrey,
center Jeff Van Note, running back Gerald
Riggs and Billy "White Shoes" Johnson made
things interesting for loyal Falcons fans.
Over the years, the Falcons have fielded
exciting teams that have supplied a fair
share of memorable moments. Atlanta
registered its first winning season in 1971
and first division title in 1980. Perhaps
the pinnacle of success for the Falcons came
in 1998 when Atlanta won the NFC
championship and earned a berth in Super
Bowl XXXIII. |
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Under the direction of head coach Dan
Reeves, the Falcons franchise captured
its first NFC championship following the
1998 regular season. A group of seasoned
veterans led the team, including
quarterback Chris Chandler, linebacker
Cornelius Bennett, and kicker Morten
Andersen. Atlanta advanced to Super Bowl
XXXIII, where they lost to the Denver
Broncos. The team has retired the
numbers #31 William Andrews, #57 Jeff
Van Note, #60 Tommy Nobis and #10 Steve
Bartkowski. Falcon players Mike Kenn,
Jessie Tuggle, Billy "White Shoes"
Johnson, Deion Sanders and Jamal
Anderson.The teams home jerseys are red
and white with white letters and black
trim. The away jerseys are white with
black letters and red trim. |
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The Falcons helmet is black with a black
face mask and a red and black falcon
logo white a grey and white border on
both sides, which forms the shape of an
F. The Atlanta Falcons play at the
Georgia Dome, which was opened in
August, 1992 and has a seating capacity
of 71,500 for football;20,000+ as arena. |
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