{{short description|NFL team season}} {{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}} {{Use American English|date=March 2026}} {{Infobox gridiron football team season | team = Atlanta Falcons | year = 1970 | record = 4–8–2 | division_place = 3rd NFC West | coach = Norm Van Brocklin | general_manager = Norm Van Brocklin | owner = Rankin M. Smith Sr. | stadium = Atlanta Stadium | playoffs = ''Did not qualify'' | shortnavlink = Falcons seasons }}
The '''1970 Atlanta Falcons season''' was the franchise's fifth year in the National Football League (NFL). The team failed to improve on their previous season's output of 6–8, winning only four games. They failed to reach the playoffs for the fifth straight season.<ref>[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/atl/1970.htm 1970 Atlanta Falcons]</ref> The team began its season by winning two of its first three games. However, following their 21–20 win over the San Francisco 49ers the Falcons went 2–7–2 in their final 11 games. The Falcons are the most recent NFL to have tie games in two straight weeks.
==Offseason==
===NFL draft=== {{main|1970 NFL draft}} {{NFL team draft start | year = 1970 | teamname = Atlanta Falcons }} {{NFL team draft entry | round = 1 | pick = 12 | player = John Small | position = Linebacker | college = The Citadel | notes = | probowl = | maderoster = yes }} {{NFL team draft entry | round = 2 | pick = 39 | player = Art Malone | position = Running back | college = Arizona State | notes = | probowl = | maderoster = yes }} {{NFL team draft entry | round = 3 | pick = 64 | player = Andy Maurer | position = Guard | college = Oregon | notes = | probowl = | maderoster = yes }} {{NFL team draft entry | round = 3 | pick = 65 | player = Todd Snyder | position = Wide receiver | college = Ohio | notes = from N. Y. Giants | probowl = | maderoster = yes }} {{NFL team draft entry | round = 4 | pick = 84 | player = Paul Reed | position = Tackle | college = Johnson C. Smith | notes = from Philadelphia | probowl = | maderoster = }} {{NFL team draft entry | round = 5 | pick = 112 | player = Bruce Van Ness | position = Running back | college = Rutgers | notes = from Philadelphia via N. Y. Giants | probowl = | maderoster = }} {{NFL team draft entry | round = 5 | pick = 116 | player = Ken Mendenhall | position = Center | college = Oklahoma | notes = | probowl = | maderoster = }} {{NFL team draft entry | round = 6 | pick = 143 | player = Mack Herron | position = Running back | college = Kansas State | notes = | probowl = | maderoster = }} {{NFL team draft entry | round = 6 | pick = 147 | player = Jade Butcher | position = Wide receiver | college = Indiana | notes = from Washington | probowl = | maderoster = }} {{NFL team draft entry | round = 6 | pick = 152 | player = Randy Marshall | position = Defensive end | college = Linfield | notes = from Los Angeles | probowl = | maderoster = yes }} {{NFL team draft end | hof = no }} <ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.pro-football-reference.com/draft/1970.htm| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071221231832/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/draft/1970.htm| archive-date = 2007-12-21| title = 1970 NFL Draft Listing - Pro-Football-Reference.com| website = Pro-Football-Reference.com}}</ref>
==Personnel== ===Staff / Coaches=== {{NFL final staff | year = 1970 | team = Atlanta Falcons
| front_office = * Chairman of the board – Rankin M. Smith Sr. * President – Frank E. Wall * General manager – Norm Van Brocklin
| head_coach = * Head coach – Norm Van Brocklin
| offensive = * Offensive backfield – Walt Yowarsky * Receivers – Harry Gilmer * Offensive line – Duane Putnam
| defensive = * Head defensive – Marion Campbell * Defensive line – Bob Griffin * Defensive backfield – Fred Bruney }}
===Roster=== {{NFL final roster |Year=1970 |TeamName=Atlanta Falcons |Active= |Inactive= |PS= |Quarterbacks= {{NFLplayer|17|Bob Berry|d=American football}} {{NFLplayer|11|Randy Johnson|d=quarterback}}
|Running Backs= {{NFLplayer|33|Jim Butler|d=American football}} {{NFLplayer|45|Sonny Campbell|rookie=y}} {{NFLplayer|40|Paul Gipson}} {{NFLplayer|25|Art Malone|d=American football|rookie=y}} {{NFLplayer| 5|Harmon Wages}}
|Wide Receivers= {{NFLplayer|19|Mike Brunson|rookie=y}} {{NFLplayer|85|Paul Flatley}} {{NFLplayer|80|Todd Snyder|d=American football|rookie=y}}
|Tight Ends= {{NFLplayer|84|Mike Donohoe}} {{NFLplayer|86|Jim Mitchell|d=tight end}}
|Offensive Linemen= {{NFLplayer|63|Dick Enderle|G}} {{NFLplayer|68|Dave Hettema|T}} {{NFLplayer|75|George Kunz|T}} {{NFLplayer|53|John Matlock|C}} {{NFLplayer|64|Andy Maurer|rookie=y|G}} {{NFLplayer|62|Gary Roberts|d=American football|rookie=y|G}} {{NFLplayer|67|Malcolm Snider|T}} {{NFLplayer|57|Jeff Van Note|C}}
|Defensive Linemen= {{NFLplayer|88|Glen Condren|DT}} {{NFLplayer|87|Claude Humphrey|DE}} {{NFLplayer|72|Greg Lens|rookie=y|DT}} {{NFLplayer|89|Randy Marshall|rookie=y|DE}} {{NFLplayer|66|John Small|d=American football|rookie=y|DT}} {{NFLplayer|71|John Zook|DE}}
|Linebackers= {{NFLplayer|54|Grady Allen|OLB}} {{NFLplayer|51|Ted Cottrell|OLB}} {{NFLplayer|59|Dean Halverson|OLB}} {{NFLplayer|58|Don Hansen|MLB}} {{NFLplayer|60|Tommy Nobis|OLB}}
|Defensive Backs= {{NFLplayer|32|Grady Cavness|cb}} {{NFLplayer|28|Mike Freeman|d=defensive back|CB/FS}} {{NFLplayer|49|Al Lavan|SS}} {{NFLplayer|22|John Mallory|d=American football|SS}} {{NFLplayer|20|Tom McCauley|d=American football|FS}} {{NFLplayer|36|Ken Reaves|CB}} {{NFLplayer|47|Rudy Redmond|CB}}
|Special Teams= {{NFLplayer|26|Billy Lothridge|P}} {{NFLplayer| 8|Ken Vinyard|K}}
|Reserve Lists= {{NFLplayer|52|Ron Acks|LB|IR}} {{NFLplayer|65|Bob Breitenstein|d=offensive lineman|T|IR}} {{NFLplayer|50|Greg Brezina|LB|IR}} {{NFLplayer|15|Gail Cogdill|WR|IR}} {{NFLplayer|79|Carlton Dabney|DT|IR}} {{NFLplayer|61|Bill Sandeman|T|IR}} {{NFLplayer|74|Jim Sullivan|d=American football|rookie=y|DT|IR}} {{NFLplayer|--|Francis Winkler|C|IR}} {{NFLplayer|--|Randy Winkler|G|Military}}
|Practice Squad= {{NFLplayer|24|Kent Lawrence|WR}} {{NFLplayer|69|Mike Lewis|d=American football|rookie=y|DE}} }}
==Regular season== ===Schedule=== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |- !style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Atlanta Falcons|year=1970|border=2}}"| Week !style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Atlanta Falcons|year=1970|border=2}}"| Date !style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Atlanta Falcons|year=1970|border=2}}"| Opponent !style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Atlanta Falcons|year=1970|border=2}}"| Result !style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Atlanta Falcons|year=1970|border=2}}"| Record !style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Atlanta Falcons|year=1970|border=2}}"| Venue !style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Atlanta Falcons|year=1970|border=2}}"| Attendance !style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Atlanta Falcons|year=1970|border=2}}"| Recap |-{{Game-won}} ! 1 | September 20 | at '''New Orleans Saints''' | '''W''' 14–3 | 1–0 | Tulane Stadium | 77,042 | [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197009200nor.htm Recap] |-{{Game-lost}} ! 2 | September 27 | at Green Bay Packers | '''L''' 24–27 | 1–1 | Lambeau Field | 56,263 | [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197009270gnb.htm Recap] |-{{Game-won}} ! 3 | October 4 | '''San Francisco 49ers''' | '''W''' 21–20 | 2–1 | Atlanta Stadium | 58,850 | [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197010040atl.htm Recap] |-{{Game-lost}} ! 4 | October 11 | at Dallas Cowboys | '''L''' 0–13 | 2–2 | Cotton Bowl | 53,611 | [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197010110dal.htm Recap] |-{{Game-lost}} ! 5 | October 18 | at Denver Broncos | '''L''' 10–24 | 2–3 | Mile High Stadium | 50,705 | [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197010180den.htm Recap] |-{{Game-won}} ! 6 | October 25 | '''New Orleans Saints''' | '''W''' 32–14 | 3–3 | Atlanta Stadium | 58,850 | [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197010250atl.htm Recap] |-{{Game-lost}} ! 7 | November 1 | Chicago Bears | '''L''' 14–23 | 3–4 | Atlanta Stadium | 58,850 | [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197011010atl.htm Recap] |-{{Game-tied}} ! 8 | November 8 | at '''Los Angeles Rams''' | '''T''' 10–10 | 3–4–1 | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum | 67,232 | [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197011080ram.htm Recap] |-{{Game-tied}} ! 9 | November 15 | at Philadelphia Eagles | '''T''' 13–13 | 3–4–2 | Franklin Field | 55,425 | [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197011150phi.htm Recap] |-{{Game-lost}} ! 10 | November 22 | '''Los Angeles Rams''' | '''L''' 7–17 | 3–5–2 | Atlanta Stadium | 58,850 | [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197011220atl.htm Recap] |-{{Game-lost}} ! 11 | {{dow tooltip|November 30, 1970}} | Miami Dolphins | '''L''' 7–20 | 3–6–2 | Atlanta Stadium | 54,036 | [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197011300atl.htm Recap] |-{{Game-lost}} ! 12 | December 6 | at '''San Francisco 49ers''' | '''L''' 20–24 | 3–7–2 | Kezar Stadium | 41,387 | [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197012060sfo.htm Recap] |-{{Game-won}} ! 13 | December 13 | Pittsburgh Steelers | '''W''' 27–16 | 4–7–2 | Atlanta Stadium | 54,162 | [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197012130atl.htm Recap] |-{{Game-lost}} ! 14 | December 20 | Minnesota Vikings | '''L''' 7–37 | 4–8–2 | Atlanta Stadium | 57,992 | [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197012200atl.htm Recap] |-style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Atlanta Falcons|year=1970|border=2}}" |colspan="8"| '''Note:''' Intra-division opponents are in '''bold''' text. |}
===Standings=== {{1970 NFC West standings}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/atl/1970.htm 1970 Atlanta Falcons] at Pro-Football-Reference.com * [http://www.jt-sw.com/football/pro/results.nsf/Teams/1970-atl 1970 Atlanta Falcons] at jt-sw.com
{{Atlanta Falcons}} {{Atlanta Falcons seasons}} {{1970 NFL season by team}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:1970 Atlanta Falcons Season}} Category:Atlanta Falcons seasons Atlanta Falcons Atlanta Category:Long stubs with short prose
{{Americanfootball-season-stub}}