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1975 Atlanta Falcons season
1975 Atlanta Falcons season
Owner	Rankin M. Smith Sr.
General manager	Pat Peppler
Head coach	Marion Campbell
Home field	Atlanta Stadium
Results
Record	4–10
Division place	3rd NFC West
Playoff finish	Did not qualify
	← 1974; Falcons seasons; 1976 →;

The 1975 Atlanta Falcons season was the franchise's tenth year in the National Football League (NFL). With the first overall pick of the NFL draft, the Falcons selected quarterback Steve Bartkowski out of the University of California. However, the pick would do them no good as the Falcons slumped to another miserable 4–10 record and missed the playoffs for the 10th straight season. This was also the first and only full season for head coach Marion Campbell until the 1980s, as he was hired to coach the final 6 games of the previous season and was fired 5 games into the following season.

Offseason

NFL Draft

Round	Pick	Player	Position	College	Notes
1975 Atlanta Falcons draft
1	1	Steve Bartkowski *	Quarterback	California	from Baltimore Colts
2	29	Ralph Ortega	Linebacker	Florida
3	65	Woody Thompson	Running back	Miami (FL)	from Houston Oilers
4	81	John Nessel	Guard	Penn State
5	123	Greg McCrary	Tight end	Clark Atlanta University	from Buffalo Bills
6	132	Fulton Kuykendall	Linebacker	UCLA	from Baltimore Colts
6	133	Doug Payton	Offensive tackle	Colorado
7	159	Mike Esposito	Running back	Boston College
8	185	Brent Adams	Offensive tackle	Chattanooga
9	211	Brad Davis	Running back	LSU
10	237	Marshall Mills	Wide receiver	West Virginia
11	263	Jeff Merrow	Defensive end	West Virginia
12	289	Alonza Pickett	Tackle	Texas Southern
13	315	Carl Russ	Linebacker	Michigan
14	341	Steve Robinson	Defensive tackle	Tuskegee	from Baltimore Colts
15	367	Jimmy Robinson	Wide receiver	Georgia Tech
16	393	Steve Knutson	Tackle	USC
17	419	Mitch Anderson	Quarterback	Northwestern
Made roster * Made at least one Pro Bowl during career

^[1]^[2]

Personnel

Staff

**1975 Atlanta Falcons staff**
	Front office Chairman of the board – Rankin M. Smith Sr. President – Frank E. Wall General manager – Pat Peppler Head coaches Head coach – Marion Campbell Offensive coaches Offensive coordinator – Bill Nelsen Offensive backfield – John Rauch Receivers – Jimmy Orr Offensive line – Bill Walsh			Defensive coaches Defensive coordinator – Fred Bruney Defensive line – Eddie Khayat Linebackers – Marv Matuszak Defensive backfield – Al Lavan

Roster

**1975 Atlanta Falcons roster**
Quarterbacks (QB) 10 Steve Bartkowski 11 Kim McQuilken 7 Pat Sullivan Running backs (RB) 25 Larry Crowe 47 Brad Davis 46 Monroe Eley 43 Dave Hampton 30 Oscar Reed 24 Haskel Stanback 48 Woody Thompson FB Wide receivers (WR) 82 Ken Burrow 89 Wallace Francis 84 Alfred Jenkins Tight ends (TE) 88 Greg McCrary 86 Jim Mitchell		Offensive linemen (OL) 61 Brent Adams T 63 Nick Bebout T 65 Len Gotshalk T 56 Dennis Havig G 68 Larron Jackson G 64 Royce Smith G 57 Jeff Van Note C Defensive linemen (DL) 78 Roy Hilton DE 69 Mike Lewis DT 75 Jeff Merrow DE 74 Mike Tilleman DT 79 Chuck Walker DT 71 John Zook DE		Linebackers (LB) 50 Greg Brezina 58 Don Hansen 54 Fulton Kuykendall 60 Tommy Nobis 55 Ralph Ortega 59 Carl Russ Defensive backs (DB) 34 Ray Brown S 38 Rick Byas CB 32 Ray Easterling FS 40 Bob Jones S 22 Rolland Lawrence CB 29 Ron Mabra Special teams 6 John James P 12 Nick Mike-Mayer K		Reserve 26 Mike Esposito RB (IR) 87 Claude Humphrey DE (IR) -- Steve Knutson T (IR) 83 Larry Mialik TE (IR) Rookies in italics

Regular season

Schedule

Week	Date	Opponent	Result	Record	Venue	Attendance	Recap
1	September 21	at St. Louis Cardinals	L 20–23	0–1	Busch Memorial Stadium	42,172	Recap
2	September 28	Detroit Lions	L 14–17	0–2	Atlanta Stadium	45,218	Recap
3	October 5	New Orleans Saints	W 14–7	1–2	Atlanta Stadium	29,444	Recap
4	October 12	at San Francisco 49ers	W 17–3	2–2	Candlestick Park	44,043	Recap
5	October 19	at Los Angeles Rams	L 7–22	2–3	Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum	64,843	Recap
6	October 26	Cincinnati Bengals	L 14–21	2–4	Atlanta Stadium	45,811	Recap
7	November 2	at New Orleans Saints	L 7–23	2–5	Louisiana Superdome	49,342	Recap
8	November 9	at Minnesota Vikings	L 0–38	2–6	Metropolitan Stadium	43,751	Recap
9	November 16	Los Angeles Rams	L 7–16	2–7	Atlanta Stadium	44,595	Recap
10	November 23	Denver Broncos	W 35–21	3–7	Atlanta Stadium	28,686	Recap
11	November 30	at Oakland Raiders	L 34–37 (OT)	3–8	Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum	50,860	Recap
12	December 7	Washington Redskins	L 27–30	3–9	Atlanta Stadium	52,809	Recap
13	December 14	San Francisco 49ers	W 31–9	4–9	Atlanta Stadium	38,501	Recap
14	December 21	at Green Bay Packers	L 13–22	4–10	Lambeau Field	56,267	Recap
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Game summaries

Week 1: at St. Louis Cardinals

Week 1: Atlanta Falcons at St. Louis Cardinals – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Falcons	7	6	7	0	20
Cardinals	7	6	0	10	23

at Busch Memorial Stadium, St. Louis, Missouri

Date: September 21
Game time: 2:00 p.m. EDT/1:00 p.m. CDT
Game weather: 54 °F (12 °C)
Game attendance: 42,172
Box score

Game information

First quarter

STL – Terry Metcalf 39-yard run (Jim Bakken kick). Cardinals 7–0.
ATL – Steve Bartkowski 1-yard run (Nick Mike-Mayer kick). Tied 7–7.

Second quarter

STL – Jim Bakken 22-yard field goal. Cardinals 10–7.
ATL – Dave Hampton 6-yard run (kick failed). Falcons 13–10.
STL – Jim Bakken 39-yard field goal. Tied 13–13.

Third quarter

ATL – Dave Hampton 1-yard run (Nick Mike-Mayer kick). Falcons 20–13.

Fourth quarter

STL – Earl Thomas 8-yard pass from Jim Hart (Jim Bakken kick). Tied 20–20.
STL – Jim Bakken 25-yard field goal. Cardinals 23–20.

Top passers

ATL – Steve Bartkowski – 8/16, 81 yards, INT
STL – Jim Hart – 12/23, 150 yards, TD, 2 INT

Top rushers

ATL – Dave Hampton – 23 rushes, 135 yards, 2 TD
STL – Terry Metcalf – 20 rushes, 99 yards, TD

Top receivers

ATL – Woody Thompson – 3 receptions, 29 yards
STL – Mel Gray – 3 receptions, 65 yards

Week 2: vs. Detroit Lions

Week 2: Detroit Lions at Atlanta Falcons – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Lions	0	7	3	7	17
Falcons	0	7	7	0	14

at Atlanta Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia

Date: September 28
Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
Game weather: 62 °F (17 °C)
Game attendance: 45,218
Box score

Game information

First quarter

No scoring plays

Second quarter

ATL – Haskel Stanback 17-yard run (Nick Mike-Mayer kick). Falcons 7–0.
DET – Horace King 5-yard run (Errol Mann kick). Tied 7–7.

Third quarter

ATL – Gerald Tinker 26-yard pass from Steve Bartkowski (Nick Mike-Mayer kick). Falcons 14–7.
DET – Errol Mann 29-yard field goal. Falcons 14–10.

Fourth quarter

DET – Altie Taylor 1-yard run (Errol Mann kick). Lions 17–14.

Top passers

DET – Greg Landry – 12/21, 146 yards
ATL – Steve Bartkowski – 7/22, 104 yards, TD, INT

Top rushers

DET – Altie Taylor – 16 rushes, 63 yards, TD
ATL – Dave Hampton – 21 rushes, 86 yards

Top receivers

DET – Ray Jarvis – 5 receptions, 64 yards
ATL – Ken Burrow – 3 receptions, 43 yards

Week 3: vs. New Orleans Saints

Week 3: New Orleans Saints at Atlanta Falcons – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Saints	0	0	7	0	7
Falcons	7	7	0	0	14

at Atlanta Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia

Date: October 5
Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
Game weather: 55 °F (13 °C)
Game attendance: 29,444
Box score

Game information

First quarter

ATL – Ken Burrow 9-yard pass from Steve Bartkowski (Nick Mike-Mayer kick). Falcons 7–0.

Second quarter

ATL – Jim Mitchell 50-yard fumble return (Nick Mike-Mayer kick). Falcons 14–0.

Third quarter

NO – Alvin Maxson 1-yard run (Bill McClard kick). Falcons 14–7.

Fourth quarter

No scoring plays

Top passers

NO – Archie Manning – 15/31, 146 yards, 2 INT
ATL – Steve Bartkowski – 11/23, 119 yards, TD, INT

Top rushers

NO – Mike Strachan – 14 rushes, 71 yards
ATL – Dave Hampton – 25 rushes, 101 yards

Top receivers

NO – Alvin Maxson – 11 receptions, 71 yards
ATL – Jim Mitchell – 3 receptions, 65 yards

Week 4: at San Francisco 49ers

Week 4: Atlanta Falcons at San Francisco 49ers – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Falcons	7	7	3	0	17
49ers	0	0	3	0	3

at Candlestick Park, San Francisco, California

Date: October 12
Game time: 4:00 p.m. EDT/1:00 p.m. PDT
Game weather: 57 °F (14 °C)
Game attendance: 44,043
Box score

Game information

First quarter

ATL – Jim Mitchell 9-yard pass from Steve Bartkowski (Nick Mike-Mayer kick). Falcons 7–0.

Second quarter

ATL – Haskel Stanback 26-yard run (Nick Mike-Mayer kick). Falcons 14–0.

Third quarter

SF – Steve Mike-Mayer 26-yard field goal. Falcons 14–3.
ATL – Nick Mike-Mayer 27-yard field goal. Falcons 17–3.

Fourth quarter

No scoring plays

Top passers

ATL – Steve Bartkowski – 9/20, 96 yards, TD
SF – Norm Snead – 16/28, 196 yards, 4 INT

Top rushers

ATL – Haskel Stanback – 6 rushes, 40 yards, TD
SF – Larry Schreiber – 13 rushes, 54 yards

Top receivers

ATL – Ken Burrow – 2 receptions, 35 yards
SF – Gene Washington – 5 receptions, 66 yards

Week 5: at Los Angeles Rams

Week 5: Atlanta Falcons at Los Angeles Rams – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Falcons	0	0	0	7	7
Rams	10	6	6	0	22

at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, California

Date: October 19
Game time: 4:00 p.m. EDT/1:00 p.m. PDT
Game weather: 61 °F (16 °C)
Game attendance: 64,843

Week 6: vs. Cincinnati Bengals

Week 6: Cincinnati Bengals at Atlanta Falcons – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Bengals	0	14	0	7	21
Falcons	7	0	0	7	14

at Atlanta Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia

Date: October 26
Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
Game weather: 60 °F (16 °C)
Game attendance: 45,811

Week 7: at New Orleans Saints

Week 7: Atlanta Falcons at New Orleans Saints – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Falcons	0	0	0	7	7
Saints	0	10	10	3	23

at Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana

Date: November 2
Game time: 2:00 p.m. EST/1:00 p.m. CST
Game weather: None (played indoors)
Game attendance: 49,342

Week 8: at Minnesota Vikings

Week 8: Atlanta Falcons at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Falcons	0	0	0	0	0
Vikings	7	17	7	7	38

at Metropolitan Stadium, Bloomington, Minnesota

Date: November 9
Game time: 2:00 p.m. EST/1:00 p.m. CST
Game weather: 46 °F (8 °C)
Game attendance: 43,751
Box score

Game information

First quarter

MIN – Chuck Foreman 3-yard pass from Fran Tarkenton (Fred Cox kick). Vikings 7–0.

Second quarter

MIN – Fred Cox 45-yard field goal. Vikings 10–0.
MIN – Chuck Foreman 1-yard run (Fred Cox kick). Vikings 17–0.
MIN – Chuck Foreman 1-yard run (Fred Cox kick). Vikings 24–0.

Third quarter

MIN – Jim Lash 12-yard pass from Bob Lee (Fred Cox kick). Vikings 31–0.

Fourth quarter

MIN – Dave Osborn 2-yard run (Fred Cox kick). Vikings 38–0.

Top passers

ATL – Kim McQuilken – 5/26, 43 yards, 5 INT
MIN – Fran Tarkenton – 11/22, 47 yards, TD

Top rushers

ATL – Dave Hampton – 9 rushes, 39 yards
MIN – Chuck Foreman – 26 rushes, 102 yards, 2 TD

Top receivers

ATL – Dave Hampton – 1 reception, 15 yards
MIN – Chuck Foreman – 4 receptions, 19 yards, TD

Kim McQuilken started at quarterback for the Falcons, going 5 of 26 (for a completion percentage of 19.2) for 43 yards and threw five interceptions, finishing the game with a passer rating of zero.^[3]

Week 9: vs. Los Angeles Rams

Week 9: Los Angeles Rams at Atlanta Falcons – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Rams	0	6	3	7	16
Falcons	0	0	0	7	7

at Atlanta Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia

Date: November 16
Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
Game weather: 47 °F (8 °C)
Game attendance: 44,595

Week 10: vs. Denver Broncos

Week 10: Denver Broncos at Atlanta Falcons – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Broncos	7	0	7	7	21
Falcons	0	14	7	14	35

at Atlanta Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia

Date: November 23
Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
Game weather: 36 °F (2 °C)
Game attendance: 28,686

Week 11: at Oakland Raiders

Week 11: Atlanta Falcons at Oakland Raiders – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	OT	Total
Falcons	13	7	0	14	0	34
Raiders	21	0	3	10	3	37

at Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum, Oakland, California

Date: November 30
Game time: 4:00 p.m. EST/1:00 p.m. PST
Game weather: 47 °F (8 °C)
Game attendance: 50,860

Week 12: vs. Washington Redskins

Week 12: Washington Redskins at Atlanta Falcons – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Redskins	3	7	7	13	30
Falcons	0	14	3	10	27

at Atlanta Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia

Date: December 7
Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
Game weather: 57 °F (14 °C)
Game attendance: 52,809

Week 13: vs. San Francisco 49ers

Week 13: San Francisco 49ers at Atlanta Falcons – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
49ers	0	9	0	0	9
Falcons	0	10	14	7	31

at Atlanta Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia

Date: December 14
Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
Game weather: 57 °F (14 °C)
Game attendance: 38,501

Week 14: at Green Bay Packers

Week 14: Atlanta Falcons at Green Bay Packers – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Falcons	6	0	0	7	13
Packers	3	9	10	0	22

at Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin

Date: December 21
Game time: 2:00 p.m. EST/1:00 p.m. CST
Game weather: 10 °F (−12 °C)
Game attendance: 56,267
Box score

Game information

First quarter

GB – Joe Danelo 34-yard field goal. Packers 3–0.
ATL – Dave Hampton 1-yard run (kick failed). Falcons 6–3.

Second quarter

GB – Eric Torkelson 15-yard run (kick failed). Packers 9–6.
GB – Joe Danelo 30-yard field goal. Packers 12–6.

Third quarter

GB – Joe Danelo 19-yard field goal. Packers 15–6.
GB – Barty Smith 1-yard run (Joe Danelo kick). Packers 22–6.

Fourth quarter

ATL – Alfred Jenkins 52-yard pass from Steve Bartkowski (Nick Mike-Mayer kick). Packers 22–13.

Top passers

ATL – Steve Bartkowski – 13/34, 219 yards, TD, 2 INT
GB – John Hadl – 16/32, 181 yards, INT

Top rushers

ATL – Dave Hampton – 14 rushes, 61 yards, TD
GB – Eric Torkelson – 22 rushes, 86 yards, TD

Top receivers

ATL – Alfred Jenkins – 2 receptions, 81 yards, TD
GB – Rich McGeorge – 3 receptions, 46 yards

Standings

NFC West
	W	L	T	PCT	DIV	CONF	PF	PA	STK
Los Angeles Rams⁽²⁾	12	2	0	.857	5–1	9–2	312	135	W6
San Francisco 49ers	5	9	0	.357	3–3	4–7	255	286	L4
Atlanta Falcons	4	10	0	.286	3–3	3–8	240	289	L1
New Orleans Saints	2	12	0	.143	1–5	2–9	165	360	L7

^[4]

References

^ "1975 Atlanta Falcons draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved October 24, 2014.
^ "1975 NFL Draft Pick Transactions". www.prosportstransactions.com. Retrieved February 21, 2022.
^ "Kim McQuilken Career Game Log". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved August 4, 2024.
^ NFL 2001 Record and Fact Book, Workman Publishing Co, New York, ISBN 0-7611-2480-2, p. 296

External links

1975 Atlanta Falcons at Pro-Football-Reference.com

[1] "1975 Atlanta Falcons draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved October 24, 2014.

[2] "1975 NFL Draft Pick Transactions". www.prosportstransactions.com. Retrieved February 21, 2022.

[3] "Kim McQuilken Career Game Log". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved August 4, 2024.

[4] NFL 2001 Record and Fact Book, Workman Publishing Co, New York, ISBN 0-7611-2480-2, p. 296

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Atlanta Falcons
Founded in 1966 Based in Atlanta, Georgia Headquartered in Flowery Branch, Georgia
Franchise	Franchise Team history Seasons All-time roster Quarterbacks Head coaches Expansion draft Draft history First-round draft picks
Stadiums	Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium Georgia Dome Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Culture	Rankin M. Smith Sr. Arthur Blank Freddie Falcon The "Dirty Bird" (dance) "2 Legit 2 Quit" Brian Banks Quarterback
Lore	Grits Blitz Gary Anderson's missed field goal Michael Vick dog fighting investigation Timeline 28–3
Rivalries	Carolina Panthers New Orleans Saints Philadelphia Eagles Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Wild card / First round berths (8)	1978 1982 1991 1995 2002 2008 2011 2017
Division championships (6)	1980 1998 2004 2010 2012 2016
Conference championships (2)	1998 2016
Ring of Honor	2 10 21 28 31 42 57 58 60 78 84 87
Current league affiliations	League: National Football League Conference: National Football Conference Division: South Division
Category

Atlanta Falcons seasons
1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
Italics indicates Super Bowl appearance