The Atlanta Falcons began play in the NFL in 1966. That year marks the official start of Atlanta’s NFL franchise and the beginning of pro football as a major part of the city’s sports identity.
If you live in Atlanta, are visiting, or are just digging into local sports history, understanding how and why the Falcons started in 1966 helps explain a lot about the city’s growth, its football culture, and why game days still matter so much here.
The NFL awarded Atlanta a franchise in 1965, and the team took the field for its inaugural season in 1966. From that point on, Atlanta became a permanent part of the national football conversation.
In the mid-1960s, Atlanta was growing quickly and positioning itself as a major city in the Southeast. Local leaders wanted:
The construction of Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium (completed in 1965, just south of downtown) helped convince the NFL that Atlanta was ready for a franchise.
For Atlanta residents at the time, this was a major milestone. The city now had both Major League Baseball (the Braves, who arrived in 1966) and an NFL team in the same stadium.
Here’s a simple overview of the Falcons’ early years that matter most to Atlanta’s sports history:
| Year | What Happened | Why It Matters to Atlanta |
|---|---|---|
| 1965 | NFL awards Atlanta an expansion franchise | Official birth of the Atlanta Falcons organization |
| 1966 | Falcons play their first NFL season | Pro football arrives in Atlanta |
| 1966 | First regular-season game vs. Los Angeles Rams | First time Atlanta fans see their NFL team in real action |
| 1969 | First winning season (6–8, improved from earlier years) | Signals that the team is becoming more competitive |
| 1971 | First winning record (7–6–1) | Falcons establish themselves as a serious team |
| 1978 | First playoff appearance | City gets its first taste of NFL postseason football |
| 1992 | Team moves planning forward for a new home stadium | Paves the way for the Georgia Dome and later Mercedes-Benz Stadium |
| 2017 | Team moves to Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Downtown Atlanta | Modern era of Falcons football in a state-of-the-art facility |
Even if you only remember the Falcons from recent seasons, all of this traces back to that 1966 starting point.
If you’re in Atlanta today, you’re standing in the middle of decades of Falcons history.
If you drive or walk near the Summerhill neighborhood or around the old stadium site, you’re close to where the Falcons kicked off that first season in 1966.
If you’re visiting or living in Atlanta and want to connect with the team that started in 1966, Mercedes-Benz Stadium is where you’ll see the modern version of that legacy on the field today.
Even if you’re a newer fan, the 1966 start date shows up in a few ways:
Many Falcons fans in metro Atlanta grew up with the team through:
Knowing that the Falcons have been here since 1966 gives context to that loyalty and frustration, especially when you hear older fans talk about “back in the day.”
Atlanta in the 1960s was positioning itself as the “capital of the New South.” Landing an NFL team in 1966 wasn’t just a sports story; it was a city-building story:
For many Atlanta families:
All of that connects back to 1966, when the team officially started.
If you’re in town and curious about the Falcons’ 1966 roots, here are a few practical ways to connect with that history:
Even on non-game days, stadium tours often give insight into team history, including references back to the franchise’s early years.
The former Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium site is near:
Walking or driving through this area gives a sense of where the Falcons first played after starting in 1966. You won’t find the original stadium, but you’re in the footprint of Atlanta’s earliest NFL Sundays.
Here’s a quick, Atlanta-focused summary you can refer to:
Is 1966 the year the team was founded or just when they played?
Atlanta was awarded the franchise in 1965, but the team officially began playing in the NFL in 1966. When people ask, “What year did the Atlanta Falcons start?” they almost always mean the first season, which is 1966.
Have the Falcons always been based in Atlanta?
Yes. From day one in 1966, the Falcons have always been an Atlanta-based team, representing the city and the broader metro area.
Did any other city have the Falcons before 1966?
No. Unlike some other NFL franchises that moved from city to city, the Falcons were created specifically for Atlanta and have been rooted here since their first season.
For anyone in Atlanta trying to understand the team’s origins, the key fact is simple and central: the Atlanta Falcons started in 1966, launching a football tradition that is still a major part of the city’s identity today.
