More Atlanta Falcons Information

During the 1960s and early 1970s the Falcons produced several more top players, including running back Dave Hampton and quarterback Steve Bartkowski. In 1978 the Falcons made their playoff debut after posting a 9-7 record. Entering the playoffs as a wild card team, Atlanta beat out the Philadelphia Eagles before falling to the eventual Super Bowl champions, the Dallas Cowboys.

Atlanta won the Western Division in 1980 and returned to the playoffs in 1982. But that playoff appearance was followed by three consecutive last-place finishes, despite Riggs's 1,719 yards in 1985, which led all NFL rushers that year. The club endured eight straight losing seasons and four coaching changes from 1983 through 1990. In 1991 former Houston Oilers head coach Jerry Glanville ended the playoff drought by guiding the team to a 10-6 record and a wild card berth. A strong player on the team was cornerback Deion Sanders, who also played in the outfield for the Atlanta Braves of major league baseball.