2001 Atlanta Falcons season

NFL team season August 2023 March 2026 Atlanta Falcons 2001 7–9 3rd NFC West Taylor Smith Dan Reeves George Sefcik Don Blackmon Harold Richardson Georgia Dome Did not qualify LB Keith Brooking 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.NFL 2001 Record and Fact Book, Workman Publishing Co, New York, NY, 0-7611-2480-2, p. 392 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.ESPN – Chargers big winner in different draft-day deal – NFL 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.http://football.about.com/od/nflhistory/l/bl_awardsmvp.htm NFL Most Valuable Players – NFL MVP Player of the Year 2008-08-15 2008-05-17 https://web.archive.org/web/20080517141658/http://football.about.com/od/nflhistory/l/bl_awardsmvp.htm dead Although Vick has never become league MVP, he finished second in voting in 2004.Barry Wilner Manning NFL MVP again: 49 TDs, passing rating of 121.1 make Colts QB near-unanimous pick The Decatur Daily 2005-01-11 http://www.decaturdaily.com/decaturdaily/sports/050111/nfl.shtml https://archive.today/20070523210354/http://www.decaturdaily.com/decaturdaily/sports/050111/nfl.shtml dead 2007-05-23 2007-05-23 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) K Morten Andersen (Giants) RB Rodney Thomas (Titans) P Dan Stryzinski (Chiefs) S Chris Hudson LB Jessie Tuggle (retirement) CB Darrien Gordon (Raiders) WR Tim Dwight (Chargers) CB Terry Cousin (Dolphins) NFL draft 2001 NFL draft 2001 Atlanta Falcons 1 1 Michael Vick Quarterback Virginia Tech yes yes 2 35 Alge Crumpler Tight end North Carolina yes yes 4 99 Roberto Garza Guard Texas A&M–Kingsville yes 4 102 Matt Stewart Linebacker Vanderbilt yes 5 136 Vinny Sutherland Wide receiver Purdue 6 167 Randy Garner Defensive end Arkansas 7 215 Corey Hall Defensive back Appalachian State yes 7 219 Kynan Forney Guard Hawaii yes 7 226 Ronald Flemons Defensive end Texas A&M yes 7 236 Quentin McCord Wide receiver Kentucky yes no https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/atl/2001_draft.htm 2001 Atlanta Falcons Draftees Pro-Football-Reference.com December 17, 2013 Undrafted free agents + 2001 undrafted free agents of note Player Position CollegeMatt AllenPunterTroy StateCorey BrownWide ReceiverTulsaJay FeelyKickerMichiganDave KadelaOffensive tackleVirginia TechTrey MerkensLinebackerUTEP Personnel 2001 Atlanta Falcons 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 2001 Atlanta Falcons 53 5 5 12 Chris Chandler American football 11 Doug Johnson American football  7 Michael Vick y 44 Bob Christian American football FB 36 Travis Jervey 41 George Layne y FB 43 Maurice Smith running back 20 Rodney Thomas 86 Brian Finneran 84 Shawn Jefferson 81 Terance Mathis 88 Quentin McCord y 19 Shawn Mills American football y 83 Alge Crumpler y 89 Reggie Kelly 85 Brian Kozlowski 48 Derek Rackley LS 71 Travis Claridge G/T 65 Kynan Forney y G 63 Roberto Garza y C/G 64 Bob Hallen G 73 Dave Kadela y T 62 Todd McClure C 74 Ephraim Salaam T 66 Michael Thompson American football T 70 Bob Whitfield T 75 Shane Dronett DT 79 Ronald Flemons y DE 98 Travis Hall American football DT 95 Ed Jasper DT 97 Patrick Kerney DE 90 Ron Moore defensive tackle DT 91 Brady Smith American football DE 93 Shawn Swayda DE/DT 99 Chuck Wiley DE 56 Keith Brooking MLB 94 Henri Crockett OLB 54 Chris Draft OLB 53 Mark Simoneau MLB/OLB 52 Matt Stewart American football y OLB 50 Artie Ulmer OLB 33 Ashley Ambrose CB 23 Ronnie Bradford FS 34 Ray Buchanan CB 35 Johndale Carty SS 21 Darrien Gordon CB/PR 28 Corey Hall American football y FS 47 Chris Hudson American football FS 22 Gerald McBurrows SS 37 Darrick Vaughn CB/KR 21 Elijah Williams American football CB  4 Jay Feely y K 13 Chris Mohr P 32 Jamal Anderson RB IR 17 Corey Brown no link y WR IR 55 Antony Jordan LB IR 51 Jeff Kelly linebacker LB IR 82 Mareno Philyaw WR NF-Inj. 68 Ian Allen gridiron football y T 59 Shane Elam y LB 15 Daniel Guy y WR 49 Dallas Neil P/TE 67 Chad Overhauser G 6 53 Preseason Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue 1 August 3, 2001 Pittsburgh Steelers L 16–17 0–1 Georgia Dome 2 August 11, 2001 at New York Jets W 20–10 1–1 Giants Stadium 3 August 17, 2001 at Washington Redskins W 27–6 2–1 FedExField 4 August 31, 2001 Tampa Bay Buccaneers 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 its predecessor, the Coastal Division of the NFL’s Western Conference prior to the 1970 merger, is counted, then it would be 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 Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance 1 September 9 at San Francisco 49ers L 13–16 (OT) 0–1 3Com Park 65,989 2ATL-STL The Falcons were originally scheduled to play the St. Louis Rams during Week 2 of the original NFL schedule (September 16) at Trans World Dome in St. Louis. However, due to the September 11 attacks, the game was rescheduled to Week 17. September 23 Carolina Panthers W 24–16 1–1 Georgia Dome 47,804 3 September 30 at Arizona Cardinals W 34–14 2–1 Sun Devil Stadium 28,878 4 October 7 Chicago Bears L 3–31 2–2 Georgia Dome 46,483 5 October 14 San Francisco 49ers L 31–37 (OT) 2–3 Georgia Dome 46,727 6 October 21 at New Orleans Saints W 20–13 3–3 Louisiana Superdome 70,020 7 Bye 8 November 4 New England Patriots L 10–24 3–4 Georgia Dome 44,229 9 November 11 Dallas Cowboys W 20–13 4–4 Georgia Dome 69,010 10 November 18 at Green Bay Packers W 23–20 5–4 Lambeau Field 59,849 11 November 25 at Carolina Panthers W 10–7 6–4 Ericcson Stadium 72,234 12 December 2 St. Louis Rams L 6–35 6–5 Georgia Dome 59,318 13 December 9 New Orleans Saints L 10–28 6–6 Georgia Dome 68,826 14 December 16 at Indianapolis Colts L 27–41 6–7 RCA Dome 55,603 15 December 23 Buffalo Bills W 33–30 7–7 Georgia Dome 43,320 16 December 30 at Miami Dolphins L 14–21 7–8 Pro Player Stadium 73,559 17ATL-STL January 6 at St. Louis Rams L 13–31 7–9 Trans World Dome 66,033 Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text. Standings Notes References External links 2001 Atlanta Falcons at Pro-Football-Reference.com Atlanta Falcons Category:Atlanta Falcons seasons Atlanta Category:2001 in Atlanta