Five Things You May Not Know About The Atlanta Falcons:-)
The Atlanta Falcons came into the NFL in 1966 as the first franchise in the league from the deep south. Like most expansion teams, the Falcons were not immediately successful. In fact, they wouldn’t go on to qualify for the playoffs for the first time until 1978. Over the years the Falcons have had some great players and even fielded some great teams. Here though are five things you may not know about the Atlanta Falcons.

1. While the Falcons have had some very good years, including appearing in the Super Bowl following the 1998 season, they haven’t always put up the best of win-loss records. From their first season in 1966 through the 2008 National Football League season, the Atlanta Falcons have never put together back to back winning years.

2. One of the biggest individual accomplishments any player in the NFL can reach is to eventually be his team’s all time scoring leader. The all time scoring leader for the Atlanta Falcons is their former kicker Morten Andersen. Amazingly, Andersen is also the all time scoring leader for another team, the New Orleans Saints.

3. Many people go into coaching as a career at all sorts of levels of football, but not many reach the top level of coaching in the National Football League. Former Atlanta Falcons head coach Marion Campbell actually had two stints leading the team. He first coached the team from 1974-1976, and then again from 1987-1989.

4. Rankin Smith, an insurance executive from the Atlanta area, paid 8.5 million dollars to the National Football League in 1965 and in return was rewarded with the opportunity to be the first owner of the new NFL franchise in Atlanta that would later become the Atlanta Falcons.

5. One of the most exciting plays in professional football is the kickoff return for a touchdown. It is as exciting as it is rare, with many great players never accomplishing the feat. Three Atlanta Falcons football players have returned kickoffs for 100 yards and a touchdown during their career; Dennis Pearson, Deion Sanders and Darrick Vaughn.

Being the first NFL franchise in the deep south meant that early on the Atlanta Falcons were able to build a strong following in the region. The Falcons took awhile to reach the upper levels of the NFL, but have appeared in the playoffs a number of times and the Super Bowl on one occasion. The Atlanta Falcons will continue to be popular, not only in their home region but actually all over the country. There are many Falcons fans on the map and their team has made them proud from time to time. The future for the Atlanta Falcons looks very bright indeed.