The Atlanta Falcons are a professional  American football team based in Atlanta,   Georgia. They  are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference (NFC) in  the National Football League (NFL). The Falcons joined the NFL in 1965 as an  expansion team, after the NFL offered then-owner Rankin Smith a franchise to  keep him from joining the rival American Football League (AFL). The AFL instead  granted a franchise to Miami,   Florida (the Miami Dolphins). In  their 45 years of existence, the Falcons have compiled a record of 298–402–6  with division championships in 1980, 1998, 2004, and 2010. Their first and only  Super Bowl appearance was Super Bowl XXXIII in 1999.

  Once a stadium, Atlanta-Fulton County  Stadium, was built, Atlantans felt the time was right to start pursuing  professional football. One independent group which had been active in NFL  exhibition promotions in Atlanta  applied for franchises in both the American Football League and the NFL, acting  entirely on its own with no guarantee of stadium rights. Another group reported  it had deposited earnest money for a team in the AFL.

  With everyone running in different  directions, some local businessmen worked out a deal and were awarded an AFL  franchise on June 7, 1965, contingent upon acquiring exclusive stadium rights  from city officials. NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle, who had been moving slowly  in Atlanta matters, was spurred by the AFL  interest and headed on the next plane down to Atlanta  to block the rival league's claim on the city of Atlanta. He forced the city to make a choice  between the two leagues. On June 30 Rankin Smith and the NFL were the choice.

The Atlanta Falcons franchise began on  June 30, 1965 when NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle granted ownership to Rankin  Smith Sr. The expansion team was awarded the first pick in the 1966 NFL Draft  as well as the final picks in each of the first five rounds. [1] The Falcons  drafted All-American Linebacker Tommy Nobis from the University of Texas  with the first pick of the draft, making him the first-ever Falcon. The league  also held the 1966 NFL Expansion Draft six weeks later in which the Falcons  selected unprotected players from existing franchises. The Falcons selected  many good players in drafts, but they still could not win. The Falcons had  their first season in 1966, and their first preseason game on August 1, 1966,  losing to the Philadelphia Eagles. They lost their first nine regular-season  games and secured their first victory on the road against the New York Giants.  The team finished the 1960s with only 12 wins. The Falcons had their first  Monday Night Football game in Atlanta  during the 1970 season. The 1971 season was their first with a winning record.