Has Atlanta Ever Won a Super Bowl? A Local’s Guide to the Falcons’ Big-Game History

If you live in Atlanta, you’ve probably heard the question more than once: “Did Atlanta win a Super Bowl?” The short, direct answer is:

No — the Atlanta Falcons have never won a Super Bowl.
However, the team has appeared in the Super Bowl twice, and those games are a big part of modern Atlanta sports history.

This guide walks you through what Atlanta fans should know: the Falcons’ Super Bowl trips, what happened in those games, where the team stands now, and how you can experience NFL football and Super Bowl culture right here in Atlanta.

Atlanta’s Super Bowl Record at a Glance

Here’s a quick overview of Atlanta’s appearances in the NFL’s biggest game:

Key takeaway:
Atlanta has reached the Super Bowl twice but is still chasing its first Lombardi Trophy.

Super Bowl Appearances by the Atlanta Falcons

Super Bowl XXXIII (1998 Season): The “Dirty Bird” Era

If you’ve lived in Atlanta long enough, you remember the 1998 Falcons and the rise of the “Dirty Bird” celebration. That season, the Falcons shocked the league and made their first-ever Super Bowl.

• Season: 1998
• Super Bowl played: January 31, 1999
• Opponent: Denver Broncos
• Final score: Denver 34, Atlanta 19
• Location: Miami, Florida

Atlanta came into the game as an underdog against the defending champion Broncos. While the Falcons didn’t win, that run put Atlanta football on the national map and built a generation of local fans, especially around the Georgia Dome, which was the Falcons’ home at the time.

For longtime Atlantans, this era is remembered for:

• The team’s breakout season and strong defense
• The “Dirty Bird” touchdown dance that became part of local culture
• The city’s feeling of “we finally made it” onto the biggest stage

Super Bowl LI (2016 Season): The Historic Comeback… Against Us

The 2016 Falcons are remembered for one of the most explosive offenses in the league and one of the most painful nights in Atlanta sports history.

• Season: 2016
• Super Bowl played: February 5, 2017
• Opponent: New England Patriots
• Final score: New England 34, Atlanta 28 (overtime)
• Location: Houston, Texas

Atlanta climbed to a 28–3 lead late in the third quarter, and many fans in the city were already thinking this might finally be Atlanta’s first Super Bowl win. But New England mounted a historic comeback, tied the game, and won in overtime.

For Falcons fans in Atlanta, this game is:

• A source of heartbreak, often just referred to as “28–3”
• A reminder of how close the city has come to a championship
• Still a major talking point whenever Super Bowl conversations come up locally

If you’re new to Atlanta, you’ll notice that “28–3” is a kind of shared reference among sports fans here — part joke, part scar, part motivation.

Has Any Team From Atlanta Won a Super Bowl?

If you’re asking the question in a broader way — has any Atlanta-based NFL team ever won a Super Bowl? — the answer is still no:

• The Atlanta Falcons are the only NFL franchise based in Atlanta.
• They have 0 Super Bowl championships so far.
• They have won multiple division titles and made several playoff runs, but the Lombardi Trophy has not yet come to Atlanta as a team champion.

However, some players with Atlanta ties (born here, played college here, or played for the Falcons at some point) have been part of Super Bowl–winning teams elsewhere, but those titles don’t count as wins for the city’s franchise.

Has Atlanta Ever Hosted a Super Bowl?

Even though Atlanta has not won a Super Bowl, the city has hosted the game several times and played a major role on the NFL’s big stage.

Super Bowls Hosted in Atlanta

Atlanta has hosted the Super Bowl three times:

1. Super Bowl XXVIII (1994) – At the Georgia Dome
2. Super Bowl XXXIV (2000) – Also at the Georgia Dome
3. Super Bowl LIII (2019) – At Mercedes-Benz Stadium, downtown Atlanta

Super Bowl LIII in 2019 was especially important locally because:

• It showcased the new Mercedes-Benz Stadium to a worldwide audience.
• It brought major events, concerts, and visitors to downtown Atlanta and nearby neighborhoods like the Castleberry Hill and Centennial Olympic Park area.
• Many Atlantans experienced Super Bowl week activities even without attending the game.

So while Atlanta hasn’t won a Super Bowl as a team, the city itself has been front and center as a Super Bowl host.

Where the Falcons Play Now: Experiencing NFL Football in Atlanta

If you’re living in or visiting Atlanta and want to connect to the Falcons’ Super Bowl quest, the best place to start is game day.

Mercedes-Benz Stadium

• Team: Atlanta Falcons (NFL)
• Location: 1 AMB Drive NW, Atlanta, GA 30313
• Area: Near Downtown Atlanta, close to State Farm Arena and Centennial Olympic Park

This is where Atlanta’s future Super Bowl hopes live. At the stadium, you can:

• Watch regular-season Falcons games and feel the local fan energy.
• Explore the massive video halo board, open concourses, and fan-friendly pricing on certain concessions.
• Visit the stadium on non-game days for tours (availability varies) that highlight the architecture, locker rooms, and field-level areas.

For many fans, attending a game here is the closest thing to experiencing Super Bowl-level production during the regular season.

How Atlanta Fans Stay Connected to the Super Bowl

Even though the home team hasn’t brought home a Lombardi yet, Super Bowl Sunday is still a big deal in Atlanta. If you’re in the city around Super Bowl time, you’ll notice:

Local Sports Bars and Watch Spots

Across Midtown, Downtown, Buckhead, and popular intown neighborhoods like Inman Park, Virginia-Highland, and parts of the Westside, many bars and restaurants host Super Bowl watch parties with:

• Big screens and audio tuned to the game
• Specials on food and drinks
• Crowds of both Falcons loyalists and general NFL fans

While the specific spots change over time, areas around:

• The Battery Atlanta (near Truist Park, in Cobb County)
• West Midtown / Howell Mill
• East Atlanta Village

often feature lively Super Bowl viewing atmospheres.

Community and Home Events

Around metro Atlanta, it’s also common for:

• Neighborhood associations
• Church communities
• Apartment complexes and condo buildings

to host Super Bowl gatherings in common rooms or clubhouses, especially when the matchup features popular franchises or star players.

Even without the Falcons in the game, football is a big part of Atlanta’s social calendar, and many residents still talk about the past Super Bowls involving the city’s team.

What This Means if You’re an Atlanta Sports Fan

If you’re in Atlanta and wondering about Super Bowls, here’s the bottom line:

• No, Atlanta has not won a Super Bowl… yet.
• The Falcons have two Super Bowl appearances (1998 and 2016), both memorable for very different reasons.
• Atlanta has hosted the Super Bowl three times, most recently at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in 2019.
• The city remains deeply invested in the Falcons’ future, with many fans hoping to see that first championship banner raised in Atlanta.

Whether you’re cheering from a seat at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, a living room in Decatur or Smyrna, or a bar in Midtown, being an NFL fan in Atlanta means living with history — and still believing the city’s first Super Bowl win is ahead, not behind.