The 1974 Atlanta Falcons season was the franchise's ninth year in the National Football League (NFL). After coming close to their maiden postseason appearance the previous season and finishing with a best-to-date 9–5 record despite an upset loss to the Cardinals, the Falcons traded star cornerback Ken Reaves to the archrival New Orleans Saints to obtain in-demand guard Royce Smith, a former Georgia Bulldogs All-American,[1] in a widely criticized move (Reaves played only five games for New Orleans before he was cut; he signed with St. Louis, where he remained through his retirement in 1978). During the strike-affected pre-season, they beat the Eagles 23 to 7 in a rain-soaked match,[2] before losing to the Raiders, 28–16.[3] Soon afterwards the Falcons lost key offensive tackle Bill Sandeman for the entire season with a slipped disc in his back.[4]
Along with a form lapse from quarterback Bob Lee and an injury to running back Dave Hampton,[5] this destroyed the Falcons’ offense. The 1974 Falcons scored 111 points with a mere twelve touchdowns, the lowest total in franchise history, and the second lowest by any team in a fourteen-game NFL season[6] after the infamous “Zero Gang” offense of the 1977 Buccaneers who were shut out six times in fourteen games. Their failure to score more than seventeen points in any game has been equalled since only by the infamous offense of the 1992 Seahawks.
The Falcons sacked long-serving head coach Norman van Brocklin after being thrashed by the Miami Dolphins and having heard demands from fans to make that move. Three of his successors have suffered the same humiliation in the middle of a season: Marion Campbell (1976 and 1989), Dan Reeves (2003) and Dan Quinn (2020), and Bobby Petrino quit with three games remaining in 2007.[7][8]
The 1974 Falcons suffered through the humiliation of being the first Falcons team to be swept by the Saints since the teams became division rivals with the AFL-NFL merger. The Saints entered the season 1–9 all-time vs. the Falcons, with that win coming in the teams' first meeting in 1967. New Orleans did not sweep Atlanta again until 1983.
^“Falcons deny trading Reaves Connected with Players’ Strike”; in Ellensburg Daily Record; July 20, 1974; p. 4
^“Falcons blast Eagles, 23–7”; in St. Petersburg Times; August 5, 1974; p. 9C
^“Harold Hart, Stabler Leader Raiders’ Win Over Falcons”; in The Tuscaloosa News; August 11, 1974; p. 2C
^“Falcon Tackle out for Season”; in Bangor Daily News; August 22, 1974; p. 18
^“Hampton out with Bum Knee”; in Rome News-Tribune; August 27, 1974; p. 6
^Pro-Football-Reference.com: In a single season, from 1961 to 1978, in the regular season, sorted by ascending Points For and Requiring Points For less than 200
^“Falcons Dump the Dutchman”; in The Pittsburgh Press, November 5, 1974; p. 69
^“Steelers Take on Falcons”; in St. Petersburg Times; October 28, 1974; p. 3C
and 22 Related for: 1974 Atlanta Falcons season information
The 1974AtlantaFalconsseason was the franchise's ninth year in the National Football League (NFL). After coming close to their maiden postseason appearance...
The AtlantaFalcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football...
for the AtlantaFalcons of the National Football League. They are listed in order of the date of each playing at quarterback for the Falcons. The number...
The 1987 AtlantaFalconsseason was the franchise's 22nd season in the National Football League (NFL). The Falcons finished with the worst record in the...
The AtlantaFalcons are an American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are members of the South division of the National Football Conference...
The AtlantaFalcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta. The Falcons compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member...
The American football team AtlantaFalcons was founded in Atlanta, Georgia in 1965 and joined the NFL Eastern Conference, with Norb Hecker as coach. They...
(April 26, 2013). "Falcons CEO: Atlanta needs MLS team". Atlanta Business Chronicle. Retrieved December 3, 2018. "Terms for Falcons stadium reached". ESPN...
1973 AtlantaFalconsseason was the franchise's eighth year in the National Football League (NFL). The team improved on their previous season's output...
The 1975 AtlantaFalconsseason was the franchise's tenth year in the National Football League (NFL). With the first overall pick of the NFL draft, the...
AtlantaFalcons in the National Football League (NFL). It includes players that have played at least one game in the NFL regular season. The Atlanta Falcons...
twice-named AAC Offensive Player of the Year before being selected by the AtlantaFalcons in the third round of the 2022 NFL draft. Ridder was born in Louisville...
The win at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium allowed New Orleans to complete its first season sweep of Atlanta since the Saints and Falcons became division...
teams with the addition of the AtlantaFalcons, making a bye necessary one week for each team. This was the last season that the NFL was divided only into...
Packers Vikings Falcons Rams Saints 49ers The 1974 NFL season was the 55th regular season of the National Football League. The season ended with Super...
HIGH-nih-kee; born March 15, 1993) is an American football quarterback for the AtlantaFalcons of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for...
and was selected first overall by the AtlantaFalcons in the 2001 NFL draft. During his six years with the Falcons, he was named to three Pro Bowls and...
with the first overall pick in the 1975 NFL draft by the AtlantaFalcons (after the Falcons acquired the pick in a trade with the Colts). Bartkowski was...
executive who is the CEO of the AtlantaFalcons of the National Football League (NFL). Prior to joining the Falcons, he was the general manager of the...
The 1974 Pittsburgh Steelers season was the franchise's 42nd in the National Football League (NFL). They improved to a 10–3–1 regular-season record, won...
edit AtlantaFalcons: Marion Campbell began his first full season as head coach. He replaced Norm Van Brocklin, who was fired after starting the 1974 season...