Atlanta Falcons

Rankin Smith Sr. paid $8.5 million in 1965 to bring an NFL expansion franchise to Atlanta, and the Falcons took flight in 1966 with Norb Hecker as their first head coach. Like most expansion teams, the early years were a struggle. The Falcons won just nine games in their first three seasons before Hecker was replaced by Norm Van Brocklin, the fiery former quarterback who proved to be a better player than coach.

The franchise found its first true star in linebacker Tommy Nobis, the first player ever drafted by the Falcons and the 1966 NFL Rookie of the Year. "Mr. Falcon" became the heart and soul of the franchise during its formative years, earning five Pro Bowl selections while playing for mostly losing teams. Quarterback Steve Bartkowski, drafted first overall in 1975, gave the franchise a dynamic passer who would lead the Falcons into their first era of competitiveness.

The Falcons played their home games at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium, sharing the venue with the Braves. Attendance was inconsistent, reflecting a fan base still developing its relationship with professional football. But the pieces were slowly being assembled for the franchise's first breakthrough.

Leeman Bennett's arrival as head coach in 1977 brought the Falcons their first sustained period of success. The 1978 season was a watershed moment: the Falcons went 9-7 and earned their first-ever playoff berth, with the "Grits Blitz" defense—a revolutionary blitzing scheme that led the league in fewest points allowed—establishing the franchise's defensive identity. The 1980 team went 12-4 and reached the divisional round before falling to the Dallas Cowboys.

The mid-1980s through early 1990s brought a return to losing under coaches Dan Henning and Marion Campbell. The franchise hit rock bottom in 1990, going 3-13 under Jerry Glanville, though Glanville's colorful personality—he famously left game tickets for Elvis Presley—brought the Falcons national attention. Deion Sanders, the electrifying "Prime Time," was the team's biggest star during this period, his flashy play at cornerback and kick returner making him must-see television.

The hiring of Jerry Glanville and then Bobby Petrino's brief tenures represented a franchise searching for stability. Despite the struggles, individual stars like Andre Rison, Jessie Tuggle, and Chris Doleman gave fans reasons to watch and helped lay the groundwork for the franchise's eventual rise.

The hiring of Dan Reeves in 1997 and the emergence of running back Jamal Anderson transformed the Falcons from pretenders to contenders virtually overnight. The 1998 season was magical: the Falcons went 14-2 behind Anderson's league-leading 1,846 rushing yards and the "Dirty Bird" touchdown celebration that became a national phenomenon. The Falcons defeated the Minnesota Vikings 30-27 in overtime in the NFC Championship Game—one of the greatest upsets in conference championship history—to reach their first Super Bowl.

Super Bowl XXXIII was a harsh reality check. John Elway and the Denver Broncos dominated from start to finish, winning 34-19 in what proved to be Elway's final game. The loss, while disappointing, couldn't diminish what the 1998 Falcons had accomplished—they had put the franchise on the national map.

The post-Super Bowl hangover was severe. Anderson tore his ACL in 1999, and the team declined rapidly. Reeves was fired during the 2003 season, and the franchise needed a new vision. They found it in an electrifying quarterback from Virginia Tech named Michael Vick, whose unprecedented combination of speed and arm strength made him the most exciting player in football.

Michael Vick's arrival as the first overall pick in the 2001 draft changed the franchise forever—for better and for worse. Vick was unlike any quarterback the NFL had ever seen. His 4.3-second 40-yard dash speed, combined with a cannon arm, made him virtually impossible to defend and turned the Falcons into appointment television. His 2002 performance against the Vikings, where he accounted for over 300 total yards in a playoff victory, remains one of the most dazzling individual performances in postseason history.

Under coach Jim Mora Jr. (2004-06), the Falcons reached the NFC Championship Game following the 2004 season, where they fell to the Eagles. Vick was at the peak of his powers, and the franchise seemed poised for sustained success. Then everything came crashing down.

In 2007, Vick was indicted on federal charges related to a dog fighting operation run from his property. The scandal rocked the NFL, and Vick was sentenced to 21 months in federal prison. The franchise was left in ruins—morally, competitively, and financially. Head coach Bobby Petrino, hired to replace Mora, quit 13 games into his first season to take the Arkansas head coaching job, leaving the team in the most chaotic period in its history.

Matt Ryan's selection with the third overall pick in 2008 represented the Falcons' chance at redemption. The Boston College product was everything Vick wasn't—pocket-passing precision, unshakable composure, and total commitment to the community. Ryan won Offensive Rookie of the Year and immediately restored credibility to a franchise that desperately needed it.

Under head coach Mike Smith (2008-14), the Falcons became consistent winners, making the playoffs five times in seven seasons. The 2012 team went 13-3 and came within a quarter of the Super Bowl before blowing a 17-0 lead to the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship Game. Smith was replaced by Dan Quinn in 2015, and Quinn's second season produced the most thrilling and devastating chapter in franchise history.

The 2016 Falcons were spectacular. Ryan won the NFL MVP award, and the offense—featuring Julio Jones and an explosive passing attack—was the highest-scoring in the league. They reached Super Bowl LI against the New England Patriots and built a 28-3 lead in the third quarter. What followed was the greatest collapse in Super Bowl history. Tom Brady orchestrated the biggest comeback ever, and the Patriots won 34-28 in overtime. The loss haunts the franchise to this day.