1972 Atlanta Falcons season

The 1972 Atlanta Falcons season was the franchise's seventh year in the National Football League (NFL). The team failed to improve on their previous season's output of 7–6–1, finishing 7–7 and failing to reach the playoffs.[1] Standing at 7–5 the Falcons traveled to San Francisco with the NFC West division title on the line. However, the Falcons were never in the game and saw their playoff hopes end with a 20–0 shutout loss. Facing the Kansas City Chiefs in their final game of the season, Running Back Dave Hampton surpassed the 1,000-yard mark. However, a play later he is thrown for a six-yard loss and ends the season with 995 yards, as the Falcons lose and finish 7–7.

1972 Atlanta Falcons season
Owner	Rankin M. Smith Sr.
Head coach	Norm Van Brocklin
General manager	Norm Van Brocklin
Home field	Atlanta Stadium
Results
Record	7–7
Division place	2nd NFC West
Playoff finish	Did not qualify
Pro Bowlers	T George Kunz TE Jim R. Mitchell DE Claude Humphrey LB Tommy Nobis

Offseason

NFL Draft

1972 Atlanta Falcons draft
Round	Pick	Player	Position	College	Notes
1	15	Clarence Ellis	Safety	Notre Dame
2	40	Pat Sullivan	Quarterback	Auburn
2	41	Steve Okoniewski	Defensive Tackle	Montana
2	42	Rosie Manning	Defensive Tackle	Northeastern State
3	67	Les Goodman	Running Back	Yankton
Made roster

Personnel

Staff

1972 Atlanta Falcons staff

	Front office Chairman of the Board – Rankin M. Smith Sr. President – Frank E. Wall General Manager – Norm Van Brocklin Head coaches Head Coach – Norm Van Brocklin Offensive coaches Offensive Backfield – Billy Ray Barnes Receivers – Harry Gilmer Offensive Line – Duane Putnam			Defensive coaches Head Defensive – Marion Campbell Defensive Line – Bob Griffin Defensive Backfield – Fred Bruney

Roster

1972 Atlanta Falcons final roster

	Quarterbacks 17 Bob Berry  7 Pat Sullivan Running backs 28 Willie Belton 43 Dave Hampton 25 Art Malone 44 Eddie Ray  5 Harmon Wages Wide receivers 82 Ken Burrow 81 Wes Chesson 45 Ray Jarvis 80 Todd Snyder Tight ends 83 Larry Mialik 86 Jim Mitchell		Offensive linemen 68 Ted Fritsch C 65 Len Gotshalk T 56 Dennis Havig G 75 George Kunz T 64 Andy Maurer G 61 Bill Sandeman T 57 Jeff Van Note C Defensive linemen 88 Glen Condren DT 87 Claude Humphrey DE 69 Mike Lewis DT 77 Rosie Manning DT 66 John Small DT 79 Chuck Walker DT 71 John Zook DE		Linebackers 54 Grady Allen 51 Duane Benson 50 Greg Brezina 58 Don Hansen 60 Tommy Nobis Defensive backs 34 Ray Brown S 29 Clarence Ellis FS 31 Willie Germany SS 27 Tom Hayes CB 35 Tony Plummer 36 Ken Reaves CB 30 Larry Shears Special teams 37 Bill Bell K  6 John James P		Reserve lists Practice squad Rookies in italics , 5 practice squad

Schedule

Week	Date	Opponent	Result	Attendance
1	September 17, 1972	at Chicago Bears	W 37–21	55,701
2	September 24, 1972	at New England Patriots	L 21–20	60,999
3	October 1, 1972	Los Angeles Rams	W 31–3	57,122
4	October 8, 1972	Detroit Lions	L 26–23	58,850
5	October 15, 1972	at New Orleans Saints	W 21–14	66,294
6	October 22, 1972	at Green Bay Packers	W 10–9	47,967
7	October 29, 1972	San Francisco 49ers	L 49–14	58,850
8	November 5, 1972	at Los Angeles Rams	L 20–7	75,018
9	November 12, 1972	New Orleans Saints	W 36–20	58,850
10	November 20, 1972	at Washington Redskins	L 24–13	53,034
11	November 26, 1972	Denver Broncos	W 23–20	58,850
12	December 3, 1972	Houston Oilers	W 20–10	58,850
13	December 10, 1972	at San Francisco 49ers	L 20–0	61,214
14	December 17, 1972	Kansas City Chiefs	L 17–14	58,850

Standings

NFC West
	W	L	T	PCT	DIV	CONF	PF	PA	STK
San Francisco 49ers	8	5	1	.607	3–2–1	6–4–1	353	249	W2
Atlanta Falcons	7	7	0	.500	3–3	5–5	269	274	L2
Los Angeles Rams	6	7	1	.464	4–2	5–5–1	291	286	L2
New Orleans Saints	2	11	1	.179	1–4–1	2–8–1	215	361	L3

References

1. 1972 Atlanta Falcons

External links

• 1972 Atlanta Falcons at Pro-Football-Reference.com