| Team: | Atlanta Falcons |
| Year: | 2021 |
| Record: | 7–10 |
| Division Place: | 3rd NFC South |
| Owner: | Arthur Blank |
| General Manager: | Terry Fontenot |
| Stadium: | Mercedes-Benz Stadium |
| Playoffs: | Did not qualify |
| Pro Bowlers: | TE Kyle Pitts LS Josh Harris |
| Ap All-Pros: | CB A. J. Terrell (2nd team) LS Josh Harris (2nd team) |
| Uniform: | Atlanta Falcons Uniforms 2020-2021.png |
| Shortnavlink: | Falcons seasons |
The 2021 season was the Atlanta Falcons' 56th season in the National Football League (NFL), their fifth playing their home games at Mercedes-Benz Stadium and their first under general manager Terry Fontenot and head coach Arthur Smith.
For the first time since 2010, wide receiver Julio Jones was not on the roster as he was traded to the Tennessee Titans on June 6, 2021.[1] Jones departed Atlanta holding the most career receiving yards and receptions in Falcons franchise history.
Following their Week 12 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Falcons improved their 4–12 season from the previous year. However, the Falcons were eliminated from playoff contention for the fourth consecutive year following a Week 17 loss to the Buffalo Bills.
It was also their final season with quarterback Matt Ryan, as he was traded to the Indianapolis Colts for the following season.[2]
See main article: 2021 NFL draft.
| Round | Selection | Player | Position | College | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Highest selected tight end in NFL history | |||||
| 2 | 40 | from Denver Broncos | ||||
| 3 | 68 | |||||
| 4 | 108 | |||||
| 114 | from Denver Broncos | |||||
| 5 | 148 | |||||
| 182 | ||||||
| 183 | ||||||
| 6 | 187 |
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Recap | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tennessee Titans | L 3–23 | 0–1 | Mercedes-Benz Stadium | Recap | ||
| 2 | at Miami Dolphins | L 17–37 | 0–2 | Hard Rock Stadium | Recap | ||
| 3 | August 29 | Cleveland Browns | L 10–19 | 0–3 | Mercedes-Benz Stadium | Recap |
The Falcons 2021 schedule was announced on May 12. They opened the season at home against the Philadelphia Eagles.
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Recap | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | September 12 | Philadelphia Eagles | L 6–32 | 0–1 | Mercedes-Benz Stadium | Recap | |
| 2 | September 19 | at Tampa Bay Buccaneers | L 25–48 | 0–2 | Raymond James Stadium | Recap | |
| 3 | September 26 | at New York Giants | W 17–14 | 1–2 | MetLife Stadium | Recap | |
| 4 | October 3 | Washington Football Team | L 30–34 | 1–3 | Mercedes-Benz Stadium | Recap | |
| 5 | October 10 | New York Jets | W 27–20 | 2–3 | Recap | ||
| 6 | Bye | ||||||
| 7 | October 24 | at Miami Dolphins | W 30–28 | 3–3 | Hard Rock Stadium | Recap | |
| 8 | October 31 | Carolina Panthers | L 13–19 | 3–4 | Mercedes-Benz Stadium | Recap | |
| 9 | November 7 | at New Orleans Saints | W 27–25 | 4–4 | Caesars Superdome | Recap | |
| 10 | November 14 | at Dallas Cowboys | L 3–43 | 4–5 | AT&T Stadium | Recap | |
| 11 | New England Patriots | L 0–25 | 4–6 | Mercedes-Benz Stadium | Recap | ||
| 12 | November 28 | at Jacksonville Jaguars | W 21–14 | 5–6 | TIAA Bank Field | Recap | |
| 13 | December 5 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | L 17–30 | 5–7 | Mercedes-Benz Stadium | Recap | |
| 14 | December 12 | at Carolina Panthers | W 29–21 | 6–7 | Bank of America Stadium | Recap | |
| 15 | December 19 | at San Francisco 49ers | L 13–31 | 6–8 | Levi's Stadium | Recap | |
| 16 | December 26 | Detroit Lions | W 20–16 | 7–8 | Mercedes-Benz Stadium | Recap | |
| 17 | January 2 | at Buffalo Bills | L 15–29 | 7–9 | Highmark Stadium | Recap | |
| 18 | January 9 | New Orleans Saints | L 20–30 | 7–10 | Mercedes-Benz Stadium | Recap | |
The Falcons start their season off with a 26-point loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.
Younghoe Koo kicked a game-winning field goal as time ran out, improving Atlanta to 4–4.
Coming off with a 2-point win in Week 9, they host the Saints. They were defeated by 10 points and finish their season with a 7-10 record.