Atlanta Falcons Past Quarterbacks: A Fan’s Guide for Atlanta

If you live in Atlanta, spend your Sundays at Mercedes‑Benz Stadium, or just want to understand the team’s history a little better, knowing the Atlanta Falcons’ past quarterbacks is a big part of knowing the city’s football culture.

Below is a clear, Atlanta-focused walk‑through of the most important Falcons quarterbacks over the decades, what they meant to the city, and how their eras connect to what you see on the field today.

How Falcons Quarterbacks Helped Shape Atlanta Football

Quarterbacks in Atlanta have often done more than just run an offense. Many of them:

• Became faces of the city’s sports identity
• Drew fans to the old Georgia Dome and now Mercedes‑Benz Stadium
• Helped define whole eras for Atlanta sports – from hard-nosed 1970s football to the high-flying 1990s and modern passing attacks

Thinking about “Atlanta Falcons past quarterbacks” is really thinking about eras in Atlanta:

• The early expansion years (1960s–70s)
• The “Grit and Grind” 1980s
• The Dirty Bird late 1990s
• The Michael Vick era
• The Matt Ryan era and the Super Bowl run
• Recent transitional years

Quick Reference: Key Atlanta Falcons Past Quarterbacks

Here’s a simple snapshot of some of the most significant Falcons QBs and why locals still talk about them:

*Years are approximate team tenure, not exact game counts.

The Foundational Years: 1960s–1970s Falcons Quarterbacks

If you’re new to Falcons history, the earliest quarterbacks can feel distant. But these names show up on throwback jerseys around Atlanta sports bars and tailgates.

Early Names You’ll Hear Around Atlanta

In the expansion era, the Falcons cycled through several quarterbacks while the franchise found its footing. Key early figures included:

• Randy Johnson – One of the first starters for the young franchise
• Bob Berry – Helped stabilize the position in the early years
• June Jones – Later returned to football as a coach, but played QB for Atlanta in the 1970s

For long-time Atlantans, these names connect back to Atlanta Stadium days before the Georgia Dome and Mercedes‑Benz Stadium even existed.

Steve Bartkowski: Atlanta’s First True Franchise QB

Steve Bartkowski is usually the first “big” quarterback name you’ll hear in any serious Falcons conversation in Atlanta.

• Drafted with high expectations in the mid‑1970s
• Known for his strong arm and willingness to push the ball downfield
• Led Atlanta to multiple playoff appearances, giving the city its first real taste of postseason football

If you walk through Falcons history exhibits or see vintage highlights at events around the stadium, Bartkowski’s era often marks the beginning of Atlantans believing their team could be more than just an expansion franchise.

1980s Falcons QBs: Grit, Toughness, and Transition

The 1980s were up and down for the team, and that’s reflected in the instability at quarterback.

Chris Miller and Company

Several quarterbacks rotated through during this decade, but Chris Miller is a name many Atlanta fans still recognize:

• Played in the late 1980s and early 1990s
• Known locally for his toughness and willingness to hang in the pocket
• Helped bridge the gap between older Falcons football and the flashier teams that would follow

If you attend a Falcons alumni event in the Atlanta area or watch throwback content on game days, Miller’s time is often mentioned as a period when the team was fighting to stay competitive while the city itself was rapidly growing.

The 1990s: Dirty Bird Energy and a Super Bowl Run

Atlanta in the 1990s was changing fast—growing businesses, new neighborhoods, and more national attention. Falcons football mirrored that change, moving into a more exciting, high‑profile era.

An Odd Footnote: Brett Favre in Atlanta

Around Atlanta, older fans often bring up Brett Favre as a “what if” story:

• Drafted by the Falcons in 1991
• Played only sparingly in Atlanta
• Traded away and became a star quarterback elsewhere

For Atlantans who love football history, Favre is a reminder that even major stars sometimes pass briefly through local franchises before finding their place.

Chris Chandler and the 1998 Super Bowl Season

When locals talk about the “Dirty Bird” era, they usually mean:

• Head coach Dan Reeves
• Running back Jamal Anderson
• And quarterback Chris Chandler

Chandler led the Falcons to:

• A 13–3 season in 1998
• The franchise’s first Super Bowl appearance, which many long-time Atlanta residents still remember clearly

On game days in Atlanta today, you might still see throwback No. 12 Chandler jerseys mixed in with Vick and Ryan jerseys, especially among fans who grew up in the 1990s.

The Michael Vick Era: A New Kind of Atlanta Star

For many Atlantans, especially those who grew up in the 2000s, Michael Vick is the most iconic Falcons quarterback of all.

Why Vick Meant So Much to Atlanta

Vick’s era aligned with major changes in downtown Atlanta and the old Georgia Dome:

• He brought unmatched excitement with his running ability and highlight plays
• Falcons games became must-watch events in the city
• Atlanta gained a reputation for having one of the most dynamic players in the league

If you go to Falcons games or sports bars around Downtown, Midtown, or the Battery Atlanta today, you’ll still see a lot of Vick jerseys and hear debates about his impact.

The Off-Field Fallout

Vick’s legal issues ending his time in Atlanta were a major moment in local sports history. For fans in the city, it was:

• A shock, given how central he’d become to Atlanta’s sports identity
• A period that forced the franchise to reset its direction

Understanding the Vick era helps explain why the Falcons and their fans were so ready for a steady, long-term leader at quarterback soon after.

The Matt Ryan Era: Stability, Success, and a Super Bowl Run

Matt Ryan (often called “Matty Ice” around Atlanta) is the quarterback most closely associated with the modern Falcons era and the move into Mercedes‑Benz Stadium.

Why Matt Ryan Is So Central to Recent Atlanta History

Ryan arrived at a time when Atlanta needed stability at quarterback:

• Drafted in 2008, stepped in as a day-one starter
• Provided consistent, high-level play for more than a decade
• Helped turn the Falcons into regular playoff contenders

For Atlantans, Ryan’s tenure lined up with:

• The final years of the Georgia Dome
• The opening and rise of Mercedes‑Benz Stadium
• A surge in national attention on the city’s sports scene

The 2016 Season and Super Bowl LI

Ryan’s 2016 MVP season is a central point in any discussion about Falcons quarterbacks:

• Led one of the most explosive offenses in the league
• Took the Falcons to Super Bowl LI, a moment that united football fans across Metro Atlanta
• Despite the painful final result, many locals still consider that team one of the best in franchise history

When you walk around the Home Depot Backyard on game day or visit Falcons-related exhibits near the stadium, the Ryan era is heavily represented—highlight reels, photos, and memorabilia.

Other Notable Falcons Quarterbacks Atlantan Fans Mention

Beyond the big names, several other past quarterbacks hold a place in local fan memory:

• Matt Schaub

  • Served as a trusted backup during parts of the 2000s and again later in Ryan’s career
  • Viewed positively by many fans for stepping in when needed

• Jeff George

  • Brought a big arm and big expectations in the mid‑1990s
  • His time in Atlanta was shorter and more turbulent, but still a talking point for long-time fans

• Joey Harrington, Byron Leftwich, and others

  • Represented bridge years when the team was searching for its next franchise leader

These names often pop up in conversations at local sports bars around Atlanta—especially when fans compare different eras of Falcons football.

Recent Years: Life After Matt Ryan

If you live in Atlanta now and follow the Falcons closely, you’ve been watching the post‑Ryan transition.

A Period of Change

The years following Ryan’s departure have been marked by:

• Multiple quarterbacks competing for the starting job
• A retooling phase as the roster changes
• Ongoing debates across Atlanta about who the next true franchise QB will be

Around town—from Buckhead to Decatur to Sandy Springs—sports talk often centers on:

• Whether the current QB is the long-term answer
• How the team’s offensive style might change
• How the next era will compare to the Vick and Ryan years

This is an evolving chapter in the story of Atlanta Falcons past and present quarterbacks.

Experiencing Falcons QB History in Atlanta

If you’re in the Atlanta area and want to connect more deeply with this history, there are a few practical ways to do it:

1. Visit Mercedes‑Benz Stadium on Game Day

While primarily built for the present, the stadium often features:

• Video board features that highlight past great Falcons QBs
• Occasional alumni appearances and on-field recognitions
• Team-store merchandise with throwback jerseys (Bartkowski, Vick, Chandler, Ryan)

Location (stadium area):
1 AMB Drive NW, Atlanta, GA 30313

2. Explore Local Sports Culture Spots

Across Atlanta, you can dive into Falcons quarterback history by:

• Watching games and talking with long-time fans at neighborhood sports bars
• Looking for vintage jerseys and memorabilia at local sports shops
• Paying attention to pre‑game coverage on Atlanta TV and radio, where analysts often compare current QBs to past stars

3. Follow Community Events and Alumni Activities

From time to time, former Falcons players, including quarterbacks, participate in:

• Charity events around Metro Atlanta
• Youth football camps and clinics
• Fan meet‑and‑greet sessions hosted in or near the stadium area

Checking local community calendars and team announcements can help you catch moments where past QBs reconnect with Atlanta fans.

How Past Falcons QBs Shape the Way Atlanta Sees the Team Today

For an Atlanta resident or visitor, understanding Falcons past quarterbacks adds depth to what you see on Sundays:

• Vick’s electricity influences how fans react to mobile, playmaking QBs
• Ryan’s consistency and leadership shape expectations for poise and accuracy
• Chandler’s Super Bowl run and Bartkowski’s breakthrough years remind fans what long-awaited success looks like

So when you hear debates in Atlanta about the current quarterback, they’re rarely just about one player. They’re about how that player fits into a long-running local story that stretches from early expansion days to the Vick and Ryan eras and beyond.

Whether you’re cheering in the upper deck of Mercedes‑Benz Stadium, watching from a Midtown apartment, or visiting the city and catching a game, knowing this quarterback history helps you see why Falcons football matters so much to Atlanta.