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.NFL 2001 Record and Fact Book, Workman Publishing Co, New York, NY, , p.98
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.
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. Just under a month later, on December 19, backup tight end Brad Beckman was also killed in an auto accident. 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).
Offseason NFL draft
Undrafted free agents
+ 1989 undrafted free agents of notePlayerPositionCollegeOscar AnguloTight endEastern KentuckyNorris BlountCornerbackBaylorDeon BookerRunning backLouisvilleIvan CookLinebackerWashington StateTyreese KnoxRunning backNebraskaSteve McMillonCornerbackWyomingMaury MetcalfLinebackerWashington StateMark MillettTight endSouthwest Texas StateKevin SimienWide receiverFort Hays StateAlonzo WashingtonRunning backArizona
Personnel Staff
Roster
Regular season Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance 1 September 10 Los Angeles Rams L 21–310–1 Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium 38,708 2 September 17 Dallas Cowboys W 27–211–1 Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium 55,285 3 September 24 at Indianapolis Colts L 9–131–2 Hoosier Dome 57,816 4 October 1 at Green Bay Packers L 21–231–3 Milwaukee County Stadium 54,647 5 October 8 at Los Angeles Rams L 14–26 1–4 Anaheim Stadium 52,182 6 October 15 New England Patriots W 16–15 2–4 Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium 39,697 7 October 22 at Phoenix Cardinals L 20–34 2–5 Sun Devil Stadium 33,894 8 October 29 at New Orleans Saints L 13–20 2–6 Louisiana Superdome 65,153 9 November 5 Buffalo Bills W 30–28 3–6 Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium 45,267 10 November 12 at San Francisco 49ers L 3–45 3–7 Candlestick Park 59,914 11 November 19 New Orleans Saints L 17–26 3–8 Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium 53,173 12 November 26 at New York Jets L 7–27 3–9 Giants Stadium 40,429 13 December 3 San Francisco 49ers L 10–23 3–10 Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium 43,128 14 December 10 at Minnesota Vikings L 17–43 3–11 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 58,116 15 December 17 Washington Redskins L 30–31 3–12 Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium 37,501 16 December 24 Detroit Lions L 24–31 3–13 Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium 7,792 Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Game summaries Week 4: at Green Bay Packers
Week 9
. Retrieved 2020-Jul-09. This would be the final win of the season for Atlanta.
Standings
Awards and records Shawn Collins, led all NFL rookie wide receivers in receptions (58)
Milestones The Falcons drew a franchise-low attendance of 7,792 for their finale, a 31–24 loss to the Detroit Lions on December 24.New York Times December 25, 1989
References
External links 1989 Atlanta Falcons at Pro-Football-Reference.com