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2001 Atlanta Falcons season
NFL team season
NFL team season
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| team | Atlanta Falcons |
| year | 2001 |
| record | 7–9 |
| division_place | 3rd NFC West |
| owner | Taylor Smith |
| coach | Dan Reeves |
| off_coach | George Sefcik |
| def_coach | Don Blackmon |
| general_manager | Harold Richardson |
| stadium | Georgia Dome |
| playoffs | *Did not qualify* |
| pro_bowlers | LB Keith Brooking |
| shortnavlink | Falcons seasons |
The 2001 Atlanta Falcons season was the franchise’s 36th season in the National Football League (NFL). The Falcons obtained the first pick overall in the 2001 NFL Draft. With the pick, the Falcons drafted Virginia Tech quarterback Michael Vick.
This was Jamal Anderson’s final season as he re-aggravated his surgically repaired knee in Week 3, and this time, it ended his career. The Falcons improved on their 9–23 record from the previous two seasons but still failed to qualify for the postseason for the third consecutive campaign after a 6–4 start.
This was the final season under the Falcons' founding ownership, the Rankin M. Smith Sr. family, as the franchise was sold to The Home Depot co-founder Arthur Blank in March 2002.
It was also the first season since 1986 that Jessie Tuggle was not on the roster, as he announced his retirement on August 28, 2001.
Offseason
Vick was selected in the 2001 NFL draft as the first overall pick and first African American quarterback taking number 1 in the NFL Draft. The San Diego Chargers had the number one selection spot in the draft that year but traded the rights to the first overall choice to the Atlanta Falcons a day before the draft, for which they received the Falcons’ first round pick (5th overall) and third round pick in 2001 (used to draft CB Tay Cody), a second round pick in 2002 (used to draft WR Reche Caldwell) and WR/KR Tim Dwight. With the Chargers’ downgraded spot (the 5th overall), they selected Texas Christian University running back LaDainian Tomlinson, who went on to become league MVP in 2006. Although Vick has never become league MVP, he finished second in voting in 2004. In this way, Tomlinson and Vick are linked as having been “traded” for each other, although the transaction was actually the result of traded draft picks and contract negotiations.
| Additions | Subtractions | |
|---|---|---|
| RB Travis Jervey (49ers) | ||
| RB Rodney Thomas (Titans) | ||
| S Chris Hudson | ||
| CB Darrien Gordon (Raiders) | ||
NFL draft
Main article: 2001 NFL draft
Undrafted free agents
| Atlanta Falcons | year=2001 | border=2}}" | Player | Atlanta Falcons | year=2001 | border=2}}" | Position | Atlanta Falcons | year=2001 | border=2}}" | College |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matt Allen | Punter | [Troy State](2000-troy-state-trojans-football-team) | |||||||||
| Corey Brown | Wide Receiver | [Tulsa](2000-tulsa-golden-hurricane-football-team) | |||||||||
| Jay Feely | Kicker | [Michigan](2000-michigan-wolverines-football-team) | |||||||||
| Dave Kadela | Offensive tackle | [Virginia Tech](2000-virginia-tech-hokies-football-team) |
Personnel
-
President – Taylor Smith
-
General manager – Harold Richardson
-
Vice president of football operations – Ron Hill
-
Director of player personnel/college – Reed Johnson
-
Director of player personnel/pro – Les Snead
-
Assistant to head coach/pro personnel – Marvin Bass
-
Executive vice president of football operations/head coach – Dan Reeves
-
Offensive coordinator/running backs – George Sefcik
-
Quarterbacks – Jack Burns
-
Wide receivers – Gary Stevens
-
Tight ends – James Daniel
-
Offensive line – Pete Mangurian
-
Assistant offensive line – Rennie Simmons
-
Offensive quality control – Ed West
-
Defensive coordinator – Don Blackmon
-
Defensive line – Bill Johnson
-
Linebackers – Billy Davis
-
Secondary – Greg Brown
-
Defensive quality control – Thom Kaumeyer
-
Special teams – Joe DeCamillis
-
Strength and conditioning – Al Miller
-
Assistant strength and conditioning – Rocky Colburn
Roster
Preseason
| Atlanta Falcons | year=2001 | border=2}}" | Week | Atlanta Falcons | year=2001 | border=2}}" | Date | Atlanta Falcons | year=2001 | border=2}}" | Opponent | Atlanta Falcons | year=2001 | border=2}}" | Result | Atlanta Falcons | year=2001 | border=2}}" | Record | Atlanta Falcons | year=2001 | border=2}}" | Venue | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| [Pittsburgh Steelers](2001-pittsburgh-steelers-season) | **L** 16–17 | 0–1 | Georgia Dome | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| at [New York Jets](2001-new-york-jets-season) | **W** 20–10 | 1–1 | Giants Stadium | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| at [Washington Redskins](2001-washington-redskins-season) | **W** 27–6 | 2–1 | FedExField | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [Tampa Bay Buccaneers](2001-tampa-bay-buccaneers-season) | **W** 36–7 | 3–1 | Georgia Dome |
Regular season
This was the Falcons’ 32nd and final season as a member of the NFC West Division. If one counts its predecessor, the Coastal Division of the NFL’s Western Conference prior to the 1970 merger, it was the franchise’s 35th season in this division. The Falcons moved to the new NFC South as part of the NFL’s realignment plan for the following season.
Schedule
| Atlanta Falcons | year=2001 | border=2}}" | Week | Atlanta Falcons | year=2001 | border=2}}" | Date | Atlanta Falcons | year=2001 | border=2}}" | Opponent | Atlanta Falcons | year=2001 | border=2}}" | Result | Atlanta Falcons | year=2001 | border=2}}" | Record | Atlanta Falcons | year=2001 | border=2}}" | Venue | Atlanta Falcons | year=2001 | border=2}}" | Attendance | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | *Bye* | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 9 | at **[San Francisco 49ers](2001-san-francisco-49ers-season)** | **L** 13–16 (OT) | 0–1 | 3Com Park | 65,989 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| September 23 | **[Carolina Panthers](2001-carolina-panthers-season)** | **W** 24–16 | 1–1 | Georgia Dome | 47,804 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| September 30 | at [Arizona Cardinals](2001-arizona-cardinals-season) | **W** 34–14 | 2–1 | Sun Devil Stadium | 28,878 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| October 7 | [Chicago Bears](2001-chicago-bears-season) | **L** 3–31 | 2–2 | Georgia Dome | 46,483 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| October 14 | **[San Francisco 49ers](2001-san-francisco-49ers-season)** | **L** 31–37 (OT) | 2–3 | Georgia Dome | 46,727 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| October 21 | at **[New Orleans Saints](2001-new-orleans-saints-season)** | **W** 20–13 | 3–3 | Louisiana Superdome | 70,020 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| November 4 | [New England Patriots](2001-new-england-patriots-season) | **L** 10–24 | 3–4 | Georgia Dome | 44,229 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| November 11 | [Dallas Cowboys](2001-dallas-cowboys-season) | **W** 20–13 | 4–4 | Georgia Dome | 69,010 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| November 18 | at [Green Bay Packers](2001-green-bay-packers-season) | **W** 23–20 | 5–4 | Lambeau Field | 59,849 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| November 25 | at **[Carolina Panthers](2001-carolina-panthers-season)** | **W** 10–7 | 6–4 | Ericcson Stadium | 72,234 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| December 2 | **[St. Louis Rams](2001-st-louis-rams-season)** | **L** 6–35 | 6–5 | Georgia Dome | 59,318 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| December 9 | **[New Orleans Saints](2001-new-orleans-saints-season)** | **L** 10–28 | 6–6 | Georgia Dome | 68,826 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| December 16 | at [Indianapolis Colts](2001-indianapolis-colts-season) | **L** 27–41 | 6–7 | RCA Dome | 55,603 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| December 23 | [Buffalo Bills](2001-buffalo-bills-season) | **W** 33–30 | 7–7 | Georgia Dome | 43,320 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| December 30 | at [Miami Dolphins](2001-miami-dolphins-season) | **L** 14–21 | 7–8 | Pro Player Stadium | 73,559 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| January 6 | at **[St. Louis Rams](2001-st-louis-rams-season)** | **L** 13–31 | 7–9 | Trans World Dome | 66,033 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| **Note:** Intra-division opponents are in **bold** text. |
Standings
Notes
References
References
- ''NFL 2001 Record and Fact Book'', Workman Publishing Co, New York, NY, {{ISBN. 0-7611-2480-2, p. 392
- [https://www.espn.com/nfl/columns/story?columnist=pasquarelli_len&id=2670541 ESPN – Chargers big winner in different draft-day deal – NFL]
- "NFL Most Valuable Players – NFL MVP Player of the Year".
- Barry Wilner. (2005-01-11). "Manning NFL MVP again: 49 TDs, passing rating of 121.1 make Colts QB near-unanimous pick". The Decatur Daily.
- "2001 Atlanta Falcons Draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
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