2021 Atlanta Falcons season

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. 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, who had been with the team since 2008, as he was traded to the Indianapolis Colts for the following season. The Falcons also got rid of Calvin Ridley after the season.

Notes

• The Falcons were awarded 3 compensatory picks in the 2021 NFL draft.
• The Falcons traded their second-round (35th overall) and sixth-round (219th overall) picks to the Denver Broncos in exchange for their second-round (40th overall) and fourth-round (114th overall) selections.
• All of the Falcons selections in this draft made the 53-man roster at the start of the regular season.

Owner/chairman – Arthur Blank President/CEO – Rich McKay General manager – Terry Fontenot Vice president of player personnel – Kyle Smith Director of pro personnel – Shepley Heard Director of coaching operations – Brian Griffin Director of college scouting – Anthony Robinson Director of player personnel – Steve Sabo Senior director of football administration – Chris Olsen National scouts – Ruston Webster, Phil Emery, and Joel Collier Head coaches

Head coach – Arthur Smith Offensive coaches

Offensive coordinator – Dave Ragone Quarterbacks – Charles London Running backs – Des Kitchings Wide receivers – Dave Brock Tight ends – Justin Peelle Offensive line – Dwayne Ledford Assistant offensive line – Chandler Henley Offensive assistant – Danny Breyer Passing game specialist – T. J. Yates | | | Defensive coaches Defensive coordinator – Dean Pees Defensive line – Gary Emanuel Linebackers – Frank Bush Outside linebackers – Ted Monachino Secondary – Jon Hoke Assistant defensive backs – Nick Perry Defensive assistant – Lanier Goethie Defensive assistant – Matt Pees Special teams coaches

Special teams coordinator – Marquice Williams Senior assistant – Steve Hoffman Strength and conditioning

Head strength and conditioning – Thomas Stallworth Assistant strength and conditioning – Bobby Thomas Assistant strength and conditioning – Roderick Moore Jr |

28 Mike Davis 30 Qadree Ollison 84 Cordarrelle Patterson 40 Keith Smith FB Wide receivers (WR)

13 Christian Blake 88 Frank Darby 14 Russell Gage  4 Tajae Sharpe 17 Olamide Zaccheaus Tight ends (TE)

46 Parker Hesse 81 Hayden Hurst  8 Kyle Pitts 85 Lee Smith | | Offensive linemen (OL) 68 Josh Andrews G 67 Drew Dalman C 66 Colby Gossett G 61 Matt Hennessy C 71 Rick Leonard T 63 Chris Lindstrom G 70 Jake Matthews T 77 Jalen Mayfield G 76 Kaleb McGary T Defensive linemen (DL)

50 John Cominsky DE 90 Marlon Davidson DE 96 Tyeler Davison NT 95 Ta'Quon Graham DE 97 Grady Jarrett DE 98 Mike Pennel NT 94 Anthony Rush NT | | Linebackers (LB) 53 Daren Bates ILB 51 Brandon Copeland OLB  6 Dante Fowler OLB 45 Deion Jones ILB 55 Steven Means OLB 92 Adetokunbo Ogundeji OLB 54 Foyesade Oluokun ILB 93 James Vaughters OLB  3 Mykal Walker ILB Defensive backs (DB)

27 Richie Grant FS 34 Darren Hall CB 21 Duron Harmon SS 32 Jaylinn Hawkins FS 22 Fabian Moreau CB 20 Kendall Sheffield CB 24 A. J. Terrell CB 35 Avery Williams CB 36 Shawn Williams SS Special teams (ST)

47 Josh Harris LS  7 Younghoe Koo K 19 Thomas Morstead P | | Practice squad 29 Cornell Armstrong CB 12 Matt Barkley QB 72 Willie Beavers T 56 Quinton Bell OLB 49 Jordan Brailford OLB 48 Dorian Etheridge ILB 83 Chad Hansen WR 42 Caleb Huntley RB 33 Luther Kirk SS 37 Dom Maggio P 64 Ryan Neuzil G 38 Lafayette Pitts CB 89 John Raine TE 59 Rashad Smith ILB 79 Nick Thurman DE 82 Austin Trammell WR Reserve

99 Jonathan Bullard DE (COVID-19) 52 Emmanuel Ellerbee ILB 73 Matt Gono T (PUP) 87 Jaeden Graham TE (IR) 23 Erik Harris FS (IR)  5 A. J. McCarron QB (IR) 26 Isaiah Oliver CB (IR) 18 Calvin Ridley WR (NF-Inj.) 69 Jason Spriggs T (COVID-19) Rookies in italics 54 active, 8 reserve, 16 practice squad |

The Falcons' 2021 schedule was announced on May 12. They opened the season at home against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

The Falcons start their season off with a 26-point loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.

NFL London games

Younghoe Koo kicked a game-winning field goal as time ran out, improving Atlanta to 4–4.

With the disastrous loss to New England, which was the 8th time the Falcons failed to beat the Patriots since 1998, the Falcons fell to 4-6 on the year.

With the loss, Atlanta fell to 7-9, finishing 2-3 against the AFC, and they were eliminated from playoff contention for the 4th straight year.

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.

• Official website