List of Atlanta Falcons seasons

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 were founded on June 30, 1965, with the NFL awarding Atlanta a football team to prevent the franchise from joining the rival American Football League. NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle granted ownership of the team to businessman Rankin Smith, beginning play in the 1966 season as an expansion team.[1][2] The name "Falcons" was suggested by high school teacher Julia Elliott through a 1965 contest.[3] Smith remained as the owner of the Falcons until his death in 1997, with ownership of the team then transferring to his son Taylor. Taylor Smith reached a preliminary agreement with businessman Arthur Blank to purchase the team on December 6, 2001. The sale was finalized on February 2, 2002, following a unanimous vote by NFL owners.[4] Since the team's inception, it has been based in Atlanta, playing their home games at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium since 2017.[5] They previously played home games at the Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium (1966–1991) and the Georgia Dome (1992–2016).[6][7] The Falcons began play in the Eastern Conference of the NFL, before moving to the Coastal division in the Western Conference. Following the 1970 NFL realignment, the team moved to the NFC West division.[8] The team moved for the third and final time to the NFC South division following the 2002 NFL realignment.[9]

External aerial view of the Mecedes-Benz Stadium.
The Atlanta Falcons have played their home games at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium since 2017.

Over their 58 seasons in the NFL, the Falcons have accumulated a record of 390 wins, 503 losses, and 6 ties, which is the fifth-worst all-time regular season record among active franchises in terms of win–loss percentage.[10] They have also made the playoffs fourteen times and have the seventh-worst playoff record in terms of win-loss percentage with 10 wins and 14 losses.[10] The Falcons appeared in two Super Bowl championships—Super Bowl XXXIII and Super Bowl LI—losing to the Denver Broncos and the New England Patriots, respectively. The Falcons have won the NFC Championship twice and a division title six times, winning the NFC West twice (1978 and 1998) and the NFC South four times (2004, 2010, 2012 and 2016).[11] The team currently has seventeen winning seasons, four tied seasons, and thirty-six losing seasons.[12]

Seasons edit

Key
Super Bowl champions *Conference champions #Division championsWild Card berth ^
Atlanta Falcons seasonal records
SeasonTeamLeagueConferenceDivisionRegular seasonPostseason resultsAwardsHead coachRefs.
FinishWLT
19661966NFLEastern7th3110Tommy Nobis (DROYTooltip National Football League Defensive Rookie of the Year Award)Norb Hecker[13][14]
19671967NFLWesternCoastal4th1121[15]
19681968NFLWesternCoastal4th2120Claude Humphrey (DROYTooltip National Football League Defensive Rookie of the Year Award)Norb Hecker (0–3)
Norm Van Brocklin (2–9)
[16][17]
19691969NFLWesternCoastal3rd680Norm Van Brocklin[18]
19701970NFLNFCWest[a]3rd482[19]
19711971NFLNFCWest3rd761[20]
19721972NFLNFCWest2nd770[21]
19731973NFLNFCWest2nd950[22]
19741974NFLNFCWest4th3110Norm Van Brocklin (2–6)
Marion Campbell (1–5)
[23]
19751975NFLNFCWest3rd4100Marion Campbell[24]
19761976NFLNFCWest4th4100Marion Campbell (1–4)
Pat Peppler (3–6)
[25]
19771977NFLNFCWest2nd770Leeman Bennett[26]
1978[b]1978NFLNFCWest2nd^970Won Wild Card playoffs (Eagles) 14–13
Lost Divisional playoffs (at Cowboys) 20–27
[28]
19791979NFLNFCWest3rd6100[29]
19801980NFLNFCWest1st1240Lost Divisional playoffs (Cowboys) 27–30Buddy Curry (Co-DROYTooltip National Football League Defensive Rookie of the Year Award)
Al Richardson (Co-DROYTooltip National Football League Defensive Rookie of the Year Award)
[30][31]
19811981NFLNFCWest2nd790[32]
19821982NFLNFC[c]5th^[c]540Lost First Round playoffs (at Vikings) 24–30[34]
19831983NFLNFCWest4th790Dan Henning[35]
19841984NFLNFCWest4th4120[36]
19851985NFLNFCWest4th4120[37]
19861986NFLNFCWest3rd781[38]
1987[d]1987NFLNFCWest4th3120Marion Campbell[40]
19881988NFLNFCWest4th5110[41]
19891989NFLNFCWest4th3130Marion Campbell (3–9)
Jim Hanifan (0–4)
[42]
19901990NFLNFCWest4th5110Jerry Glanville[43]
19911991NFLNFCWest2nd^1060Won Wild Card playoffs (at Saints) 27–20
Lost Divisional playoffs (at Redskins) 7–24
[44]
19921992NFLNFCWest3rd6100[45]
19931993NFLNFCWest3rd6100[46]
19941994NFLNFCWest3rd790June Jones[47]
19951995NFLNFCWest2nd^970Lost Wild Card playoffs (at Packers) 20–37[48]
19961996NFLNFCWest4th3130[49]
19971997NFLNFCWest3rd790Dan Reeves[50]
19981998NFLNFC#West1st1420Won Divisional playoffs (49ers) 20–18
Won NFC Championship (at Vikings) 30–27 (OT)
Lost Super Bowl XXXIII (vs. Broncos) 19–34
Dan Reeves (COYTooltip National Football League Coach of the Year Award)[51][52]
19991999NFLNFCWest3rd5110[53]
20002000NFLNFCWest5th4120[54]
20012001NFLNFCWest4th790[55]
20022002NFLNFCSouth[e]2nd^961Won Wild Card playoffs (at Packers) 27–7
Lost Divisional playoffs (at Eagles) 6–20
[56]
20032003NFLNFCSouth4th5110Dan Reeves (3–10)
Wade Phillips (2–1)
[57]
20042004NFLNFCSouth1st1150Won Divisional playoffs (Rams) 47–17
Lost NFC Championship (at Eagles) 10–27
Jim L. Mora[58]
20052005NFLNFCSouth3rd880[59]
20062006NFLNFCSouth3rd790[60]
20072007NFLNFCSouth4th4120Bobby Petrino (3–10)
Emmitt Thomas (1–2)
[61]
20082008NFLNFCSouth2nd^1150Lost Wild Card playoffs (at Cardinals) 24–30Matt Ryan (OROYTooltip National Football League Offensive Rookie of the Year Award)
Mike Smith (COYTooltip National Football League Coach of the Year Award)
Mike Smith[62][63]
20092009NFLNFCSouth2nd970[64]
20102010NFLNFCSouth1st1330Lost Divisional playoffs (Packers) 21–48[65]
20112011NFLNFCSouth2nd^1060Lost Wild Card playoffs (at Giants) 2–24[66]
20122012NFLNFCSouth1st1330Won Divisional playoffs (Seahawks) 30–28
Lost NFC Championship (49ers) 24–28
[67]
20132013NFLNFCSouth3rd4120[68]
20142014NFLNFCSouth3rd6100[69]
20152015NFLNFCSouth2nd880Dan Quinn[70]
20162016NFLNFC#South1st1150Won Divisional playoffs (Seahawks) 36–20
Won NFC Championship (Packers) 44–21
Lost Super Bowl LI (vs. Patriots) 28–34 (OT)
Matt Ryan (MVPTooltip National Football League Most Valuable Player Award), (OPOYTooltip National Football League Offensive Player of the Year Award)[71][72]
20172017NFLNFCSouth3rd^1060Won Wild Card playoffs (at Rams) 26–13
Lost Divisional playoffs (at Eagles) 10–15
[73]
20182018NFLNFCSouth2nd790[74]
20192019NFLNFCSouth2nd790[75]
20202020NFLNFCSouth4th4120Dan Quinn (0–5)
Raheem Morris (4–7)
[76]
2021[f]2021NFLNFCSouth3rd7100Arthur Smith[78]
20222022NFLNFCSouth4th7100[79]
20232023NFLNFCSouth3rd7100[80]
Totals3905036All-time regular season record (1966–2023)
1014All-time postseason record (1966–2023)
4005176All-time regular & postseason record (1966–2023)


See also edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ The NFL underwent a realignment of teams in the 1970 season, with the Falcons moving to the NFC West division.[8]
  2. ^ In 1978, the NFL expanded its regular season schedule, which had been 14 games since 1961, to 16 games.[27]
  3. ^ a b The 1982 season was shortened to nine games after a players' strike. The top eight teams in each conference advanced to the playoffs.[33]
  4. ^ The 1987 NFL strike caused the schedule to be reduced to 15 games.[39]
  5. ^ Following the 2002 NFL realignment, the Falcons played in the NFC South division.[9]
  6. ^ In 2021, the NFL expanded its regular season schedule, which had been 16 games since 1978, to 17 games.[27][77]

References edit

  1. ^ "This Day In Sports: The City Of Atlanta Gets Its NFL Wings". ESPN. June 30, 2010. Archived from the original on July 15, 2022. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  2. ^ "Team History" (PDF). 2022 Atlanta Falcons Media Guide. NFL. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2023. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
  3. ^ Johnston, Andy (January 31, 2017). "Teacher helped name the Atlanta Falcons". WSB-TV. Archived from the original on July 13, 2018. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  4. ^ Rhlm, Kris (February 17, 2022). "'We need more rings': Arthur Blank reflects on 20 years of ownership, Falcons future". Atlanta Falcons. Archived from the original on June 6, 2023. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  5. ^ "Mercedes-Benz Stadium History". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on June 2, 2023. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  6. ^ Bradley, Mark (February 20, 2016). "Atlanta's stadium farewells: Fun and flops". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. ISSN 1539-7459. Archived from the original on October 6, 2022. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  7. ^ Odum, Charles (January 6, 2017). "Falcons' 25-year stay in Georgia Dome coming to an end". Savannah Morning News. Archived from the original on December 31, 2023. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  8. ^ a b Anderson, Dave (February 27, 2000). "Sports of The Times; The Woman Who Aligned the N.F.C. Teams". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on October 24, 2023. Retrieved January 2, 2024.
  9. ^ a b "New alignment takes effect in 2002". ESPN. Associated Press. May 22, 2001. Archived from the original on February 3, 2020. Retrieved January 2, 2024.
  10. ^ a b "List of all the Pro Football Franchises". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on September 22, 2020. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  11. ^ "Team Facts". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on June 1, 2023. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
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  19. ^ "1970 Atlanta Falcons Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on October 2, 2023. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  20. ^ "1971 Atlanta Falcons Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on October 2, 2023. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  21. ^ "1972 Atlanta Falcons Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on October 2, 2023. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  22. ^ "1973 Atlanta Falcons Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on August 13, 2023. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  23. ^ "1974 Atlanta Falcons Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on March 21, 2023. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  24. ^ "1975 Atlanta Falcons Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on October 2, 2023. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  25. ^ "1976 Atlanta Falcons Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on July 1, 2023. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
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  27. ^ a b "NFL Regular Season Games Played per Season". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on May 29, 2023. Retrieved November 21, 2023.
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  30. ^ "1980 Atlanta Falcons Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on September 25, 2023. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  31. ^ "1980 Awards Voting". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on September 26, 2023. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  32. ^ "1981 Atlanta Falcons Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on April 8, 2023. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  33. ^ Lowitt, Bruce (November 21, 1982). "Here it is mid-November already, and everyone's still in the race!". The News Tribune. p. B2. Archived from the original on October 25, 2023. Retrieved October 22, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  34. ^ "1982 Atlanta Falcons Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on October 2, 2023. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  35. ^ "1983 Atlanta Falcons Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on October 2, 2023. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  36. ^ "1984 Atlanta Falcons Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on October 2, 2023. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  37. ^ "1985 Atlanta Falcons Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on April 6, 2023. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  38. ^ "1986 Atlanta Falcons Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on October 2, 2023. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
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  40. ^ "1987 Atlanta Falcons Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on April 14, 2023. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  41. ^ "1988 Atlanta Falcons Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on October 2, 2023. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  42. ^ "1989 Atlanta Falcons Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on August 13, 2023. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  43. ^ "1990 Atlanta Falcons Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on October 2, 2023. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  44. ^ "1991 Atlanta Falcons Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on October 2, 2023. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  45. ^ "1992 Atlanta Falcons Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on October 2, 2023. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  46. ^ "1993 Atlanta Falcons Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on October 2, 2023. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  47. ^ "1994 Atlanta Falcons Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on October 2, 2023. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  48. ^ "1995 Atlanta Falcons Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on October 2, 2023. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  49. ^ "1996 Atlanta Falcons Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on December 14, 2023. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
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  51. ^ "1998 Atlanta Falcons Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on August 14, 2017. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  52. ^ "1998 Awards Voting". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on November 13, 2023. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  53. ^ "1999 Atlanta Falcons Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on October 2, 2023. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  54. ^ "2000 Atlanta Falcons Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on October 2, 2023. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  55. ^ "2001 Atlanta Falcons Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on October 2, 2023. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  56. ^ "2002 Atlanta Falcons Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on October 2, 2023. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  57. ^ "2003 Atlanta Falcons Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on September 25, 2018. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  58. ^ "2004 Atlanta Falcons Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on September 25, 2018. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  59. ^ "2005 Atlanta Falcons Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on February 8, 2013. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  60. ^ "2006 Atlanta Falcons Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on November 22, 2012. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  61. ^ "2007 Atlanta Falcons Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on November 20, 2023. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  62. ^ "2008 Atlanta Falcons Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on May 12, 2023. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  63. ^ "2008 Awards Voting". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on November 14, 2022. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  64. ^ "2009 Atlanta Falcons Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees, Injury Reports". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on November 29, 2020. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  65. ^ "2010 Atlanta Falcons Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees, Injury Reports". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on January 17, 2021. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  66. ^ "2011 Atlanta Falcons Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees, Injury Reports". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on December 17, 2020. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  67. ^ "2012 Atlanta Falcons Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees, Injury Reports". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on June 8, 2023. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  68. ^ "2013 Atlanta Falcons Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees, Injury Reports". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on December 14, 2017. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  69. ^ "2014 Atlanta Falcons Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees, Injury Reports". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on March 29, 2019. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
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