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Atlanta Falcons
| June 30, 1965 |
National Football League awards a franchise to Atlanta. Owner Rankin Smith, Jr. pays 8.5 million dollars for a team that will eventually be known as the Atlanta Falcons.
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Atlanta Falcons |
| August 29, 1965 |
"Falcons" is chosen as the name of the Atlanta team. |
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Atlanta Falcons |
| September 9, 1965 |
The Atlanta Falcons announce the signing of their first two players, halfback Bob Paremore (St. Louis Cardinals) and Gary Barnes (Chicago Bears), a split end. |
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Atlanta Falcons |
| November 27, 1965 |
Atlanta Falcons participate in their first NFL draft, selecting University of Texas linebacker Tommy Nobis as the first-round draft choice. He is the first player drafted in franchise history.
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Atlanta Falcons |
| December 12, 1965 |
Tommy Nobis is signed by the Atlanta Falcons
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Atlanta Falcons |
| February 16, 1966 |
The Atlanta Falcons round out their roster with an additional 42 players via a supplimental league draft. |
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Atlanta Falcons |
| June 8, 1966 |
The American Football League (AFL) and the National Football League (NFL) agree to a merger. Atlanta becomes part of the Western Division of the NFL |
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Atlanta Falcons |
| August 1, 1966 |
Atlanta Falcons play the first professional pre-season game at Atlanta Stadium (later the Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium). They lose to Philadelphia 9-7 |
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Atlanta Falcons |
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Fulton County, Georgia |
| August 1, 1966 |
Falcons play their first (preseason) game in Atlanta.
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Atlanta Falcons |
| September 11, 1966 |
Atlanta Falcons play their first regular season game at Atlanta Stadium. They lose to the Los Angeles Rams, 19-14 |
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Atlanta Falcons |
| November 20, 1966 |
The Atlanta Falcons defeat the New York Giants, 27-16, marking the first victory in franchise history (they had lost 9 games by this time)
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Atlanta Falcons |
| September 16, 1973 |
The Atlanta Falcons defeat the New Orleans Saints by a score of 62-7, the biggest win in franchise history.
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Atlanta Falcons |
| December 24, 1978 |
Atlanta Falcons defeat the Philadelphia Eagles in the National Football Conference Wild Card Playoff, 14-13 |
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Atlanta Falcons |
| December 30, 1978 |
Dallas Cowboys defeat the Atlanta Falcons in the National Football Conference Division playoff, 27-20 |
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Atlanta Falcons |
| January 4, 1981 |
Atlanta Falcons lose to the Dallas Cowboys at the NFC division playoffs, 30-27 |
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Atlanta Falcons |
| December 19, 1982 |
The Atlanta Falcons clinch a play-off spot with a 17-7 win over the San Francisco 49ers. |
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Atlanta Falcons |
| January 9, 1983 |
Atlanta Falcons lose in the postseason to the Minnesota Vikings, 30-24. |
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Atlanta Falcons |
| December 30, 1990 |
Atlanta Falcons secure a playoff berth with a 26-7 win over the Dallas Cowboys. |
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Atlanta Falcons |
| December 28, 1991 |
Atlanta Falcons defeat the New Orleans Saints, 27-20 in the National Football Conference Wild Card game |
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Atlanta Falcons |
| January 3, 1992 |
Washington Redskins defeat the Atlanta Falcons in the NFC Division playoff, 24-7 |
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Atlanta Falcons |
| September 6, 1992 |
Atlanta Falcons play their first regular season game in the Georgia Dome, defeating the New York Jets 20-17 |
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Atlanta Falcons |
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The Georgia Dome |
| October 11, 1992 |
Deion Sanders becomes the first player to participate in two pro sports games in the same day, playing for Atlanta Falcons on Sunday afternoon, then flying back to Pittsburg to play in the National League Championship Series with the Atlanta Braves. Often overlooked in this accomplishment is the fact that he had played with the Braves in Pittsbugh on Saturday night. |
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Atlanta Falcons |
| December 24, 1995 |
The Christmas Eve miracle. Bobby Herbert, filling in for an injured Jeff George, powers the Atlanta Falcons to a 28-27 win over the World Champion San Francisco 49er's with two touchdowns, the second one coming with less than two minutes remaining in the game, gaining the Falcons a berth in the NFC playoffs |
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Atlanta Falcons |
| December 31, 1995 |
Green Bay Packers defeat the Atlanta Falcons in the NFC Wild Card playoff game, 37-20 |
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Atlanta Falcons |
| January 9, 1999 |
The Atlanta Falcons win the NFC Division playoff, defeating the San Francisco 49ers, 20-18 |
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Atlanta Falcons |
| January 17, 1999 |
Atlanta Falcons defeat the Minnesota Vikings in the NFC Championship game, 30-27. |
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Atlanta Falcons |
| January 31, 1999 |
The Atlanta Falcons lose to the Denver Broncos, 34-19 in Super Bowl XXXIII
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Atlanta Falcons |
| February 2, 2002 |
The NFL owners unanimously approve the sale of the Atlanta Falcons to Arthur Blank. Blank, who had co-founded Home Depot and recently retired from his position as co-chairman of the hardware chain store, had earlier reached a preliminary agreement to buy the Falcons from the heirs of Rankin Smith's estate. |
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Atlanta Falcons |
| January 11, 2003 |
The Atlanta Falcons Super Bowl dreams are smashed by the Philadelphia Eagles, 20-6. |
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Atlanta Falcons |
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Falcons postseason, 2003 |
| January 23, 2005 |
Atlanta Falcons are defeated in the NFL Championship Game by the Philadelphia Eagles, 27-10 |
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Atlanta Falcons |
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Atlanta Falcons postseason 2005 |
| January 1, 2007 |
Falcons Head Coach Jim Mora is fired |
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Atlanta Falcons |
| January 8, 2007 |
Falcons name Bobby Petrino of the University of Louisville as their new head coach |
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Atlanta Falcons |
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