1976 Atlanta Falcons season
{{short description|NFL team season}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox NFL team season
| team = Atlanta Falcons
| year = 1976
| record = 4–10
| division_place = 3rd NFC West
| coach = Marion Campbell (first 5 games; 1–4 record)
Pat Peppler (interim; 3–6 record)
| general_manager = Pat Peppler
| owner = Rankin M. Smith Sr.
| stadium = Atlanta Stadium
| playoffs = Did not qualify
| shortnavlink = Falcons seasons
}}
The 1976 Atlanta Falcons season was the franchise's 11th year in the National Football League (NFL). The season saw the Falcons attempting to improve on their 4–10 record from 1975. However, they were only able to match the record, as they finished the 1976 season at 4–10 and missed the playoffs for the 11th straight season. After a 1–4 start to the season, head coach Marion Campbell was fired by general manager Pat Peppler, who himself would close out the season as the interim head coach and finish the season with a 3–6 record. The Falcons also suffered the ignominy of being the only established NFL team to lose to one of the league's two expansion teams when they lost 30–13 to the Seattle Seahawks on November 7.
For the season, the Falcons converted from gray facemasks to white facemasks.
Offseason
= 1976 Expansion Draft =
{{main article|1976 NFL expansion draft}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Atlanta Falcons selected during the Expansion Draft | ||||
| style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Atlanta Falcons 71thru89|border=2}}" | Round
!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Atlanta Falcons 71thru89|border=2}}" | Overall !style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Atlanta Falcons 71thru89|border=2}}" | Name !style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Atlanta Falcons 71thru89|border=2}}" | Position !style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Atlanta Falcons 71thru89|border=2}}" | Expansion Team | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | Nick Bebout | Offensive tackle | Seattle Seahawks |
| 0 | 0 | Don Hansen | Linebacker | Seattle Seahawks |
| 0 | 0 | Vince Kendrick | Running back | Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
= Draft =
{{main article|1976 NFL Draft}}
{{NFL team draft start
| year = 1976
| teamname = Atlanta Falcons
}}
{{NFL team draft entry
| round = 1
| pick = 9
| player = Bubba Bean
| position = Running back
| college = Texas A&M
| notes =
| maderoster = yes
| hof = no
| probowl = no
}}
{{NFL team draft entry
| round = 2
| pick = 36
| player = Sonny Collins
| position = Running back
| college = Kentucky
| notes =
| maderoster = yes
| hof =
| probowl =
}}
{{NFL team draft entry
| round = 3
| pick = 71
| player = Dave Scott
| position = Guard
| college = Kansas
| notes =
| maderoster = yes
| hof =
| probowl =
}}
{{NFL team draft entry
| round = 4
| pick = 102
| player = Walt Brett
| position = Defensive end
| college = Montana
| notes =
| maderoster =
| hof =
| probowl =
}}
{{NFL team draft entry
| round = 6
| pick = 169
| player = Stan Varner
| position = Defensive tackle
| college = BYU
| notes =
| maderoster =
| hof =
| probowl =
}}
{{NFL team draft entry
| round = 7
| pick = 193
| player = Karl Farmer
| position = Wide receiver
| college = Pittsburgh
| notes =
| maderoster = yes
| hof =
| probowl =
}}
{{NFL team draft entry
| round = 8
| pick = 219
| player = Frank Reed
| position = Cornerback
| college = Washington
| notes =
| maderoster = yes
| hof =
| probowl =
}}
{{NFL team draft entry
| round = 9
| pick = 246
| player = Phil McKinnely
| position = Offensive tackle
| college = UCLA
| notes =
| maderoster = yes
| hof = no
| probowl =
}}
{{NFL team draft entry
| round = 11
| pick = 302
| player = Chuck Brislin
| position = Offensive tackle
| college = Mississippi St
| notes =
| maderoster =
| hof =
| probowl =
}}
{{NFL team draft entry
| round = 12
| pick = 329
| player = Phil Bolton
| position = Kicker
| college = Montana St
| notes =
| maderoster =
| hof =
| probowl =
}}
{{NFL team draft entry
| round = 13
| pick = 356
| player = Mike Williams
| position = Offensive tackle
| college = Florida
| notes =
| maderoster =
| hof =
| probowl =
}}
{{NFL team draft entry
| round = 14
| pick = 383
| player = Mark Husfloen
| position = Defensive end
| college = Washington St
| notes =
| maderoster =
| hof =
| probowl =
}}
{{NFL team draft entry
| round = 15
| pick = 414
| player = Ron Olson
| position = Defensive back
| college = Washington
| notes =
| maderoster =
| hof =
| probowl =
}}
{{NFL team draft entry
| round = 16
| pick = 441
| player = Pat Curto
| position = Linebacker
| college = Ohio St
| notes =
| maderoster =
| hof =
| probowl =
}}
{{NFL team draft entry
| round = 17
| pick = 468
| player = Tony Green
| position = Defensive back
| college = Texas Tech
| notes =
| maderoster =
| hof =
| probowl =
}}
{{NFL team draft end}}
Personnel
= Staff =
{{NFL final staff
| year = 1976
| team = Atlanta Falcons
| front_office =
- Chairman of the board – Rankin M. Smith Sr.
- President – Frank E. Wall
- General manager – Pat Peppler
| head_coach =
- Head coach – Marion Campbell
| offensive =
- Offensive coordinator – Bill Nelsen
- Receivers – Jimmy Orr
- Offensive line – Bill Walsh
| defensive =
- Defensive coordinator – Fred Bruney
- Defensive line – Eddie Khayat
- Linebackers – Marv Matuszak
- Defensive backfield – Al Lavan
}}
= Roster =
{{NFL final roster
| year = 1976
| team = Atlanta Falcons
| prefix =
| active = 43
| inactive =
| PS =
| quarterbacks =
{{NFLplayer|16|Scott Hunter|d=American football}}
{{NFLplayer|11|Kim McQuilken}}
| running_backs =
{{NFLplayer|44|Bubba Bean|rookie=y}}
{{NFLplayer|41|Sonny Collins|rookie=y}}
{{NFLplayer|26|Mike Esposito|d=American football}}
{{NFLplayer|24|Haskel Stanback}}
| wide_receivers =
{{NFLplayer|89|Wallace Francis}}
{{NFLplayer|42|John Gilliam}}
{{NFLplayer|84|Alfred Jenkins}}
{{NFLplayer|82|Scott Piper|rookie=y}}
| tight_ends =
{{NFLplayer|81|Bob Adams|d=American football}}
{{NFLplayer|86|Jim Mitchell|d=tight end}}
| offensive_linemen =
{{NFLplayer|62|Brent Adams|d=American football|T}}
{{NFLplayer|65|Len Gotshalk|T}}
{{NFLplayer|63|Greg Kindle|G}}
{{NFLplayer|68|Larron Jackson|G}}
{{NFLplayer|73|Phil McKinnely|rookie=y|T}}
{{NFLplayer|53|Paul Ryczek|C}}
{{NFLplayer|70|Dave Scott|d=American football|rookie=y|G}}
{{NFLplayer|64|Royce Smith|G}}
{{NFLplayer|58|Jim Weatherly|d=American football|rookie=y|C}}
| defensive_linemen =
{{NFLplayer|77|Ron East|DE}}
{{NFLplayer|71|Steve George|d=American football|DT}}
{{NFLplayer|87|Claude Humphrey|DE}}
{{NFLplayer|69|Mike Lewis|d=American football|DT}}
{{NFLplayer|75|Jeff Merrow|DE}}
{{NFLplayer|74|Mike Tilleman|DT}}
{{NFLplayer|79|Jeff Yeates|DE}}
|Linebackers=
{{NFLplayer|50|Greg Brezina|OLB}}
{{NFLplayer|51|Jim Cope|d=American football|rookie=y|MLB}}
{{NFLplayer|52|Dewey McClain|rookie=y|OLB}}
{{NFLplayer|60|Tommy Nobis|MLB}}
{{NFLplayer|55|Ralph Ortega|OLB}}
{{NFLplayer|56|Guy Roberts|d=linebacker|OLB}}
| defensive_backs =
{{NFLplayer|34|Ray Brown|d=safety|SS}}
{{NFLplayer|38|Rick Byas|CB}}
{{NFLplayer|32|Ray Easterling|FS}}
{{NFLplayer|40|Bob Jones|d=American football|FS}}
{{NFLplayer|22|Rolland Lawrence|CB}}
{{NFLplayer|29|Ron Mabra|CB}}
{{NFLplayer|28|Frank Reed|d=American football|rookie=y|CB}}
| special_teams =
{{NFLplayer| 6|John James|d=American football|P}}
{{NFLplayer|12|Nick Mike-Mayer|K}}
|Reserve Lists =
{{NFLplayer|72|Jim Bailey|d=American football|DT|IR}}
{{NFLplayer|10|Steve Bartkowski|QB|IR}}
{{NFLplayer|--|Walt Brett|rookie=y|T/G|IR}}
{{NFLplayer|46|Monroe Eley|RB|IR}}
{{NFLplayer|80|Karl Farmer|rookie=y|WR|IR}}
{{NFLplayer|54|Fulton Kuykendall|LB|IR}}
{{NFLplayer|88|Greg McCrary|TE|IR}}
{{NFLplayer|48|Woody Thompson|RB|IR}}
{{NFLplayer|57|Jeff Van Note|C|IR}}
{{NFLplayer|78|Bill Windauer|DT|IR}}
|Practice Squad =
}}
Regular season
= Schedule =
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |
| style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Atlanta Falcons|year=1976|border=2}}"| Week
!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Atlanta Falcons|year=1976|border=2}}"| Date !style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Atlanta Falcons|year=1976|border=2}}"| Opponent !style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Atlanta Falcons|year=1976|border=2}}"| Result !style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Atlanta Falcons|year=1976|border=2}}"| Record !style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Atlanta Falcons|year=1976|border=2}}"| Venue !style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Atlanta Falcons|year=1976|border=2}}"| Attendance |
|---|
| style="background:#fcc"
! 1 | September 12 | L 14–30 | 0–1 | Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium | 53,607 |
| style="background:#fcc"
! 2 | September 19 | at Detroit Lions | L 10–24 | 0–2 | Pontiac Metropolitan Stadium | 50,840 |
| style="background:#cfc"
! 3 | September 26 | at Chicago Bears | W 10–0 | 1–2 | 41,029 |
| style="background:#fcc"
! 4 | October 3 | L 13–14 | 1–3 | Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium | 45,535 |
| style="background:#fcc"
! 5 | October 10 | at New Orleans Saints | L 0–30 | 1–4 | 51,521 |
| style="background:#fcc"
! 6 | October 17 | L 17–20 | 1–5 | Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium | 33,364 |
| style="background:#fcc"
! 7 | October 23 | at San Francisco 49ers | L 0–15 | 1–6 | 50,240 |
| style="background:#cfc"
! 8 | October 31 | W 23–20 | 2–6 | Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium | 34,127 |
| style="background:#fcc"
! 9 | November 7 | at Seattle Seahawks | L 13–30 | 2–7 | Kingdome | 57,985 |
| style="background:#cfc"
! 10 | November 14 | W 21–16 | 3–7 | Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium | 20,058 |
| style="background:#cfc"
! 11 | November 21 | W 17–10 | 4–7 | Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium | 54,992 |
| style="background:#fcc"
! 12 | November 28 | at Houston Oilers | L 14–20 | 4–8 | 25,838 |
| style="background:#fcc"
! 13 | December 4 | at Los Angeles Rams | L 0–59 | 4–9 | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum | 57,366 |
| style="background:#fcc"
! 14 | {{dow tooltip|December 12, 1976}} | L 20–24 | 4–10 | Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium | 23,436 |
| style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Atlanta Falcons|year=1976|border=2}}"
|colspan="7"| Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text. |
= Standings =
{{1976 NFC West standings}}
= Season summary =
== Week 2 at Lions ==
{{See also|1976 Detroit Lions season}}
{{Americanfootballbox
|bg=
|bg2=
|titlestyle={{Gridiron primary style|Atlanta Falcons|year=1976|border=2}}; text-align:center
|state=collapsed
|title=Week Two: Atlanta Falcons (0–1) at Detroit Lions (0–1)
|date=September 19, 1976
|time=1:00 p.m.
|road=Falcons
|R1=0 |R2=7 |R3=3 |R4=0
|home=Lions
|H1=0 |H2=0 |H3=0 |H4=24
|stadium=Pontiac Metropolitan Stadium, Pontiac, Michigan
|attendance=50,840
|weather=Indoors (dome)
|referee=
|TV=
|TVAnnouncers=
|reference=[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197609190det.htm Box Score]
|scoring=
;Second quarter
- ATL – Bubba Bean 5-yard run (Nick Mike-Mayer kick). Falcons 7–0. Drive:
;Third quarter
- ATL – Nick Mike-Mayer 41-yard field goal. Falcons 10–0. Drive:
;Fourth quarter
- DET – Greg Landry 5-yard run (Errol Mann kick). Falcons 10–7. Drive:
- DET – Errol Mann 32-yard field goal. Tie 10–10. Drive:
- DET – Ed O'Neil 32-yard pass from Joe Reed (Errol Mann kick). Lions 17–10. Drive:
- DET – James Hunter 39-yard interception return (Errol Mann kick). Lions 24–10.
|stats=
;Top passers
- ATL – Steve Bartkowski – 5/16, 59 yards, 3 INT
- DET – Joe Reed – 5/11, 78 yards, TD
;Top rushers
- ATL – Bubba Bean – 22 rushes, 98 yards, TD
- DET – Dexter Bussey – 15 rushes, 79 yards
;Top receivers
- ATL – Alfred Jenkins – 3 receptions, 47 yards
- DET – Horace King – 3 receptions, 33 yards
}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/atl/1976.htm 1976 Atlanta Falcons] at Pro-Football-Reference.com
{{Atlanta Falcons}}
{{Atlanta Falcons seasons}}
{{1976 NFL season by team}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:1976 Atlanta Falcons Season}}
Category:Atlanta Falcons seasons
{{Americanfootball-season-stub}}