FOOTBALL IN HIGH HEELS: ATLANTA FALCONS
We are going back to learning about football teams and their origins in tonight’s post. This time, we are learning about the Atlanta Falcons. We will continue this throughout the season, in between other news, lessons and learning about other sports.
Name: Atlanta Falcons
Established: 1966
NFC South: Since 2002
Previously: Eastern Conference (1966), Western Conference/Costal Division(1967-1969), NFC (1970-present), NFC West (1970-2001)
Team Colors: Black, Red, Silver, White
Nickname: Dirty Birds
Super Bowl Appearances: 1
Super Bowl Wins: 0
Home Fields:
Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium (1966–1991)
known as Atlanta Stadium (1966–1976)
Georgia Dome (1992–2017)
Mercedes-Benz Stadium (2017-future)
Trivia: (via mentalfloss.com) Shortly after insurance executive Rankin Smith brought professional football to Atlanta, a local radio station sponsored a contest to name the team. Thirteen hundred people combined to suggest more than 500 names, including Peaches, Vibrants, Lancers, Confederates, Firebirds, and Thrashers. While several fans submitted the nickname Falcons, schoolteacher Julia Elliott of nearby Griffin was declared the winner of the contest for the reason she provided. “The falcon is proud and dignified, with great courage and fight,” Elliott wrote. “It never drops its prey. It is deadly and has great sporting tradition.” Elliott won four season tickets for three years and a football autographed by the entire 1966 inaugural team.
Staff:
Owner(s): Arthur Blank
CEO: Rich McKay
President: Rich McKay
General manager: Thomas Dimitroff
Head coach: Dan Quinn
