1966 - Atlanta Falcons Team Formation: The 1966 NFL History

Atlanta Falcons Team Formation: The 1966 Inaugural Season

The Atlanta Falcons team formation remains one of the most significant chapters in Atlanta Falcons history. On June 30, 1965, the franchise was officially born when NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle granted ownership to Rankin M. Smith, Sr., the executive vice president of Life Insurance Company of Georgia. This move secured Atlanta’s place in professional sports and set the stage for the 1966 season.

The Story Behind the Name

A fascinating part of the Atlanta Falcons team formation was the public contest held to name the new NFL expansion team. While fans suggested names like the Knights, Rebels, and Thrashers, it was Julia Elliott, a teacher from Griffin, Georgia, who won the contest. Her essay captured the spirit of the brand:

“The falcon is proud and dignified, with great courage and fight. It never drops its prey. It’s deadly and has a great sporting tradition.”

Establishing the 1966 Infrastructure

Beyond the name and ownership, the Atlanta Falcons team formation required a massive logistical effort to prepare for the NFL inaugural season. This involved securing Atlanta Stadium, which had been originally built to attract professional baseball and football to the city. During the transition, the organization had to quickly build a scouting department and a coaching staff from scratch. This period of Atlanta Falcons history was defined by a rapid “swing schedule” strategy, where the team faced a diverse array of opponents to balance the league’s odd number of franchises, ensuring the NFL expansion team was battle-tested from day one.

Kickoff: The 1966 Timeline

The Atlanta Falcons team formation culminated in their first-ever NFL season in 1966. Joining the Eastern Conference, the team played a unique “swing schedule” to accommodate the league’s odd number of teams at the time.

Key moments of this NFL expansion team debut include:

• August 1, 1966: The Falcons played their first preseason game against the Philadelphia Eagles.

• Attendance: A crowd of 26,072 gathered at the Atlanta Stadium to witness history.

• Legacy: The formation established a “proud and dignified” tradition that continues to this day.

From the initial paperwork in 1965 to the first kickoff at Atlanta Stadium, the Atlanta Falcons team formation was a massive undertaking. Today, looking back at Atlanta Falcons history, the 1966 season stands as a testament to the city’s “courage and fight” on the national stage.