Atlanta Falcons · Franchise era 2 of 7
Prime Time changes the temperature: the Atlanta Falcons story
Franchise era
1989—1996
Prime Time changes the temperature
Atlanta Falcons
The story in one sentence
Sanders brought speed and swagger to a franchise still searching for consistency, setting the tone for a bolder Atlanta football identity.
Deion Sanders makes Atlanta an event
Deion Sanders, Andre Rison and Chris Miller gave the era its recognizable core.
Its ending created the conditions for the dirty birds.
Timeline
How it unfolded
Before 1989
What came before
After a difficult expansion launch, Atlanta found its first playoff teams through an attacking defense, Bartkowski's arm and Andrews's punishing running.
1991-12-28
Wild Card: Atlanta Falcons vs New Orleans Saints
1992-01-04
Divisional Round: Atlanta Falcons vs Washington
February 10, 1992
The first-round gamble that revived Green Bay
Ron Wolf trusted his pre-draft evaluation despite Favre throwing only four passes as a Falcon and failing his initial Packers physical.
09Quarterback discoveryFebruary 10, 1992GB⇄ATLBrett Favre to Green BayGreen Bay sent the No. 17 pick in the 1992 draft to Atlanta for second-year quarterback Brett Favre.2 assets · 1 outcomes＋
The original receipt
Green Bay Packers received
- • Brett Favre
Atlanta Falcons received
- • 1992 first · No. 17
Favre won three consecutive MVPs, started 253 straight games for Green Bay and delivered the franchise's first championship in 29 years.
Open full trade tree →1995-12-31
Wild Card: Atlanta Falcons vs Green Bay Packers
After 1996
What came next
The 1998 Falcons went 14–2, stunned Minnesota in overtime and reached the first Super Bowl in franchise history behind Anderson and a veteran defense.
The core