1989 Atlanta Falcons season

1989 Atlanta Falcons season
Head coachMarion Campbell
Jim Hanifan (interim)
Home fieldFulton County Stadium
Results
Record3–13
Division place4th NFC West
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Pro Bowlers
1

The 1989 Atlanta Falcons season was the franchise’s 24th season in the National Football League (NFL). The Falcons drafted Deion Sanders with their first round pick in the NFL Draft. Marion Campbell retired after the twelfth game of the season.[1]

Despite having Sanders in their defensive backfield, the Falcons surrendered 7.59 yards per pass attempt (including quarterback sacks) in 1989, one of the ten worst totals in NFL history.[2]

The latter part of the season was marred by two tragedies. On November 24, rookie offensive tackle Ralph Norwood was killed in an automobile accident eight miles from the Falcons’ training facilities.[3] Just under a month later, on December 19, backup tight end Brad Beckman was also killed in an auto accident.[4] It marked the death of three players of the team in the space of two seasons (the previous year, cornerback David Croudip died of an overdose).

  1. ^ NFL 2001 Record and Fact Book, Workman Publishing Co, New York, NY, ISBN 0-7611-2480-2, p.98
  2. ^ Cold Hard Football Facts: Ryan Kalil ad: Carolina D not up to the task
  3. ^ "PRO FOOTBALL; No Drug Found in Falcon". The New York Times. November 26, 1989.
  4. ^ "Sports News Briefs; Car Crash Kills Falcon Tight End". The New York Times. December 19, 1989.