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).
Falcons s-au alăturat NFL în 1965 ca echipă de expansiune, după ce NFL i-a oferit proprietarului Rankin Smith o franciză pentru a nu se alătura rivalei American Football League (AFL).