Editing Atlanta Falcons (section)

===Smith family era (1966–2001)===
The Falcons' inaugural season was in [[1966 Atlanta Falcons season|1966]], and their first preseason game was on August 1, a loss to the [[1966 Philadelphia Eagles season|Philadelphia Eagles]]. Under head coach [[Norb Hecker]], Atlanta lost their first nine regular-season games in 1966; their first victory came on the road against the struggling [[1966 New York Giants season|New York Giants]] on November 20 in [[Yankee Stadium (1923)|Yankee Stadium]]. Two weeks later, Atlanta won at [[1966 Minnesota Vikings season|Minnesota]], and beat [[1966 St. Louis Cardinals (NFL) season|St. Louis]] in Atlanta the next week for their first home win.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1966 Atlanta Falcons Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/atl/1966.htm |access-date=2024-08-24 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> The team finished with a 1–12–1 record the next year, with the only win coming in Week 7 in a 21–20 win over the Minnesota Vikings in 1967.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1967 Atlanta Falcons Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/atl/1967.htm |access-date=2024-08-24 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> After a 0–3 start to the 1968 season, Hecker was dismissed.<ref name="w020">{{Cite web |last=Broady |first=Arlinda Smith |date=2016-08-29 |title=Looking back at Falcons first coach |url=https://www.ajc.com/news/local/photo-vault-falcons-under-first-coach-set-unwanted-record/k6GysmSudlcllPYKjw2pYM/ |access-date=2024-08-24 |website=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution}}</ref> Norm Van Brocklin finished out the season as head coach with a 2–9 record.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1968 Atlanta Falcons Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/atl/1968.htm |access-date=2024-08-24 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> Van Brocklin continued to coach the team the next season. The team improved to a 6–8 record in 1969.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1969 Atlanta Falcons Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/atl/1969.htm |access-date=2024-08-24 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref>

The Falcons had their first [[Monday Night Football]] game in Atlanta during the [[1970 Atlanta Falcons season|1970 season]], a 20–7 loss to the [[1970 Miami Dolphins season|Miami Dolphins]]. The team went 4–8–2 in 1970.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1970 Atlanta Falcons Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/atl/1970.htm |access-date=2024-08-24 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> The only two winning seasons in their first 12 years were {{nowrap|[[1971 Atlanta Falcons season|1971]] (7–6–1)}} and {{nowrap|[[1973 Atlanta Falcons season|1973]] (9–5).}}[[File:1987 Atlanta Falcons Pocket Schedule.jpg|thumb|right|The Falcons' defense taking on [[1985 Denver Broncos season|Denver Broncos]] quarterback [[John Elway]] during a [[1985 Atlanta Falcons season|1985]] game.]]
In the [[1978 Atlanta Falcons season|1978 season]], the 9–7 Falcons qualified for the playoffs for the first time and won the Wild Card game against the [[1978 Philadelphia Eagles season|Eagles]] 14–13.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1978 Atlanta Falcons Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/atl/1978.htm |access-date=2024-08-24 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Wild Card - Philadelphia Eagles at Atlanta Falcons - December 24th, 1978 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197812240atl.htm |access-date=2024-08-24 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> The following week, they lost to the [[1978 Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas Cowboys]] 27–20 in the Divisional Playoffs.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Divisional Round - Atlanta Falcons at Dallas Cowboys - December 30th, 1978 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197812300dal.htm |access-date=2024-08-24 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> The 1979 team regressed to a 6–10 record.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1979 Atlanta Falcons Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/atl/1979.htm |access-date=2024-08-24 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref>

In the [[1980 Atlanta Falcons season|1980 season]], 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 [[1982 Atlanta Falcons season|1982 season]], the 5–4 Falcons made the playoffs but lost to the [[1982 Minnesota Vikings season|Minnesota Vikings]], 30–24.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1982 Atlanta Falcons Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/atl/1982.htm |access-date=2024-08-24 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> Falcons coach [[Leeman Bennett]] was fired after the loss.<ref name="u989">{{cite web | last=Hullinger | first=Jeff | title=The oldest living former Falcons head coach is leaving Atlanta | website=Georgia Public Broadcasting | date=2024-01-18 | url=https://www.gpb.org/blogs/hullingers-musings/2024/01/18/the-oldest-living-former-falcons-head-coach-leaving-atlanta-not#:~:text=(Falcons%20owner)%20said%20firing%20me,by%20the%20forgettable%20Dan%20Henning. | access-date=2024-08-24}}</ref> The team then had losing seasons for the next eight years. Dan Henning was hired prior to the 1983 season.<ref name="n719">{{cite web | last=Moffit | first=David | title=Henning Named Falcons Coach | website=UPI | date=1983-02-01 | url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1983/02/01/Henning-Named-Falcons-Coach/2134020966602/ | access-date=2024-08-24}}</ref>

In the [[1989 NFL draft]], the Falcons selected cornerback [[Deion Sanders]] in the first round, who helped them for the next four years, setting many records for the franchise.<ref name="b377">{{cite web | last=Capers | first=Joshua | title=Deion Sanders opens up about his feelings on draft day in 1989 | website=The Clarion-Ledger | date=2021-04-28 | url=https://www.clarionledger.com/story/sports/college/football/2021/04/28/deion-sanders-opens-up-his-feelings-draft-day-1989/4861830001/ | access-date=2024-08-24}}</ref> "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 ([[New York Yankees]] and the [[Atlanta Braves]]) while simultaneously playing in the NFL.

[[File:Atlanta Falcons at Los Angeles Rams 1991-12-08 - 01 (Atlanta Falcons crop).jpg|thumb|right|The Falcons playing against the [[Los Angeles Rams]] during a 1991 away game.]]

After defeating the [[1991 New Orleans Saints season|New Orleans Saints]] in the NFC Wild Card game, the Falcons' [[1991 Atlanta Falcons season|1991 season]] ended in a divisional playoff loss to the [[1991 Washington Redskins season|Washington Redskins]]. In the [[1991 NFL draft]], the Falcons selected quarterback [[Brett Favre]] as the 33rd overall pick. During his rookie season, he played in two games where he amassed a record of four passing attempts with no receptions and two interceptions. The following February, Favre was traded to the [[1992 Green Bay Packers season|Green Bay Packers]].<ref name="n048">{{cite web | last=Hendricks | first=Andy | title=25 years later, justifying the Falcons' trade of Brett Favre | website=Falcons Wire|publisher=USA Today | date=2017-03-23 | url=https://thefalconswire.usatoday.com/2017/03/23/25-years-later-justifying-the-brett-favre-trade-by-falcons/ | access-date=2024-08-24}}</ref>

In [[1992 Atlanta Falcons season|1992]], the Atlanta Falcons opened a new chapter in their history moving into the newly constructed Georgia Dome, where the team has defeated all 31 other NFL teams at least once during its time there.<ref name="f128">{{cite web | last=Tucker | first=Tim | title=Countdown to implosion: Georgia Dome made a mark in many sports | website=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution| date=2017-11-20 | url=https://www.ajc.com/sports/countdown-implosion-georgia-dome-made-mark-many-sports/gyG2NohKl8VOgnWQ34B26K/ | access-date=2024-08-24}}</ref>

==== Dan Reeves years (1997–2003) ====
In 1998, under recently acquired head coach [[Dan Reeves]], quarterback [[Chris Chandler (American football)|Chris Chandler]] and running back [[Jamal Anderson]] the "Dirty Bird" Falcons had their greatest season to date.<ref name="g435">{{cite web | title=10 moments that defined the '98 Atlanta Falcons | website=Atlanta Magazine | date=2019-01-24 | url=https://www.atlantamagazine.com/news-culture-articles/10-moments-that-defined-the-98-atlanta-falcons/ | access-date=2024-08-24}}</ref><ref name="q170">{{cite web | last=Newberry | first=Paul | title=As Super Bowl nears, Falcons remember 'Dirty Birds' of 1998 | website=Gainesville Times | date=2017-08-27 | url=https://www.gainesvilletimes.com/sports/pros/as-super-bowl-nears-falcons-remember-dirty-birds-of-1998/ | access-date=2024-08-24}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1998 Atlanta Falcons Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/atl/1998.htm |access-date=2024-08-24 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> On January 17, 1999, the Falcons upset the top-seeded Vikings at the [[Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome]] 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]].

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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1999 Atlanta Falcons Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/atl/1999.htm |access-date=2024-08-24 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> In 2000, the Falcons suffered through another horrendous season finishing 4–12 and once again missing the playoffs.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2000 Atlanta Falcons Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/atl/2000.htm |access-date=2024-08-24 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref>

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]]).<ref name="d282">{{cite web | last=Jones | first=Lindsay | title=The 2001 NFL Draft trade that changed the Falcons, Chargers and QB play forever | website=The Athletic | date=2021-04-27 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/2535152/2021/04/27/the-2001-nfl-draft-trade-that-changed-the-falcons-chargers-and-qb-play-forever/ | access-date=2024-08-24}}</ref>

The Falcons finished the [[2001 Atlanta Falcons season|2001 season]] with a record of 7–9 and missed the playoffs.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2001 Atlanta Falcons Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/atl/2001.htm |access-date=2024-08-24 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> [[Jessie Tuggle]] retired following 14 seasons in Atlanta.<ref name="a120">{{Cite web |date=August 29, 2001 |title=Tuggle, out of plans for Atlanta, retires |url=https://www.tampabay.com/archive/2001/08/29/tuggle-out-of-plans-for-atlanta-retires/ |access-date=2024-08-24 |website=Tampa Bay Times}}</ref>