1979 Atlanta Falcons season

NFL team season August 2023 March 2026 Atlanta Falcons 1979 6–10 3rd NFC West Leeman Bennett Eddie LeBaron Rankin M. Smith Sr. Fulton County Stadium Did not qualify Falcons seasons The 1979 Atlanta Falcons season was the Falcons' 14th season. The Falcons were trying to improve upon their 9–7 record in 1978 and make it to the playoffs for the second time in team history, their first appearance being the year before. Rookie fullback William Andrews rushed for 167 yards in a 40–34 overtime win over the Saints in the season opener in New Orleans. Andrews set a team record with 1,023 yards, while quarterback Steve Bartkowski became the first Falcon to surpass the 2,000-yard mark with 2,505. However, the Falcons' defense allowed 388 points and the team finished 6–10. Offseason NFL draft 1979 NFL draft 1979 Atlanta Falcons 1 17 Don Smith Defensive tackle Miami (FL) yes 2 49 Pat Howell Guard USC yes 3 75 James Mayberry Running back Colorado yes 3 79 William Andrews Running back Auburn yes yes 4 100 Lynn Cain Running back USC yes 4 101 Charles Johnson Defensive back Grambling State yes 5 127 Mike Zele Nose tackle Kent State yes 6 154 Mike Moroski Quarterback UC Davis yes 7 186 Roger Westlund Offensive tackle Washington no 8 212 Keith Miller Linebacker Northeastern State no 9 239 Dave Parkin Defensive back Utah State yes 10 266 Bruce Beekley Linebacker Oregon yes 11 292 Bill Leer Center Colorado State no 12 323 Stuart Walker Linebacker Colorado no no https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/atl/1979_draft.htm 1979 Atlanta Falcons draftees Pro-Football-Reference.com October 22, 2014 Undrafted free agents + 1979 undrafted free agents of notePlayerPositionCollegePutt ChoateLinebackerSMUDon LukasWide receiverMichigan Tech Personnel Staff 1979 Atlanta Falcons Chairman of the board – Rankin M. Smith Sr. President – Rankin M. Smith, Jr. General manager – Eddie LeBaron Director of player personnel – Tom Braatz Head coach – Leeman Bennett Quarterbacks – Dick Wood Offensive backs – John North Receivers – Ted Plumb Offensive line – Bill Walsh Defensive coordinator – Jerry Glanville Defensive line – Jim Champion Linebackers – Doug Shively Roster 1979 Atlanta Falcons 10 Steve Bartkowski  9 Larry Fortner y 14 June Jones 15 Mike Moroski y 31 William Andrews American football y 44 Bubba Bean 39 James Mayberry y 24 Haskel Stanback 25 Ray Strong American football 89 Wallace Francis 85 Alfred Jackson wide receiver, born 1955 84 Alfred Jenkins 81 Dennis Pearson 82 Billy Ryckman 87 Russ Mikeska y 86 Jim Mitchell tight end 66 Warren Bryant American football T 61 Chuck Correal y C 64 Pat Howell y G 78 Mike Kenn T 73 Phil McKinnely T 53 Paul Ryczek C 70 Dave Scott American football G 57 Jeff Van Note C 74 Wilson Faumuina DT 77 Edgar Fields DT 69 Mike Lewis American football DT 65 Don Smith defensive lineman y DE 79 Jeff Yeates DE 63 Mike Zele y DT 50 Greg Brezina OLB 51 Brian Cabral MLB 54 Fulton Kuykendall OLB 56 Ron McCartney OLB 59 Robert Pennywell MLB 58 Joel Williams linebacker y OLB 38 Rick Byas CB 32 Ray Easterling SS 36 Bob Glazebrook FS 22 Rolland Lawrence CB 45 Tom Moriarty SS 27 Tom Pridemore FS 33 Mo Spencer CB  6 John James American football P  4 Tim Mazzetti K 21 Lynn Cain y RB IR 48 Putt Choate y LB IR 55 Tony Daykin LB IR 26 Mike Esposito American football RB IR 88 Lewis Gilbert American football TE IR 33 Jerome King y CB IR 97 Don Lukas y WR IR 52 Dewey McClain LB IR 75 Jeff Merrow DE IR 28 Frank Reed American football S IR 68 R.C. Thielemann G IR 83 James Wright tight end TE IR Regular season Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance 1 September 2 at New Orleans Saints W 40–34 1–0 Louisiana Superdome 70,940 2 September 10, 1979 at Philadelphia Eagles W 14–10 2–0 Veterans Stadium 66,935 3 September 16 Denver Broncos L 17–20 2–1 Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium 57,677 4 September 23 at Detroit Lions L 23–24 2–2 Pontiac Silverdome 56,249 5 September 30 Washington Redskins L 7–16 2–3 Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium 56,819 6 October 7 Green Bay Packers W 25–7 3–3 Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium 56,184 7 October 14 at Oakland Raiders L 19–50 3–4 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum 52,900 8 October 21 at San Francisco 49ers L 15–20 3–5 Candlestick Park 33,952 9 October 29 Seattle Seahawks L 28–31 3–6 Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium 52,566 10 November 4 Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 17–14 4–6 Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium 55,150 11 November 11 at New York Giants L 3–24 4–7 Giants Stadium 60,860 12 November 19, 1979 at Los Angeles Rams L 14–20 4–8 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum 54,097 13 November 25 New Orleans Saints L 6–37 4–9 Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium 42,815 14 December 2 at San Diego Chargers W 28–26 5–9 San Diego Stadium 50,198 15 December 9 Los Angeles Rams L 13–34 5–10 Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium 49,236 16 December 16 San Francisco 49ers W 31–21 6–10 Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium 37,211 Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text. Standings References External links 1979 Atlanta Falcons at Pro-Football-Reference.com Atlanta Falcons Category:Atlanta Falcons seasons Atlanta Falcons Category:1979 in Atlanta Category:Long stubs with short prose