Alex Mack
Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts (8) catches a ball during NFL football practice on Saturday, Aug. 7, 2021, in Atlanta, Ga. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
New coach, new GM, no Julio: Falcons begin major overhaul

By Paul Newberry Sep. 01, 2021 02:22 PM EDT

Falcons head into rebuilding year with new coach, no Julio

By The Associated Press Sep. 01, 2021 01:45 PM EDT
ATLANTA FALCONS (4-12) New faces: Head coach Arthur Smith, TE Kyle Pitts, RB Mike Davis, OG Josh Andrews, TE Lee Smith, QB Josh Rosen, DE...

49ers hope better health, QB play leads to 2021 success

By The Associated Press Sep. 01, 2021 01:30 PM EDT
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (6-10) New faces: QB Trey Lance, C Alex Mack, DE Samson Ebukam, DE Arden Key, DT Maurice Hurst, WR Trent Sherfield, DL...

Carolina Panthers quarterback Sam Darnold watches during the first half of a preseason NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens Saturday, Aug. 21, 2021, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)
Plenty of familiar faces playing in new places around NFL

By Dennis Waszak Jr. Aug. 27, 2021 05:05 PM EDT

Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Omari Cobb, right, reaches to San Francisco 49ers quarterback Trey Lance, middle, as defensive tackle Khalen Saunders approaches during the first half of an NFL preseason football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Saturday, Aug. 14, 2021. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)
Lance throws long TD pass before 49ers lose to Chiefs 19-16

By Josh Dubow Aug. 14, 2021 11:49 PM EDT

Falcons' Smith faces difficult rebuilding task in first camp

By The Associated Press Jul. 24, 2021 11:09 AM EDT
ATLANTA FALCONS (4-12) CAMP SITE: Flowery Branch, Georgia LAST YEAR: The Falcons' first 0-7 start since 1997 led to the...

49ers seek to bounce back from injury-plagued 2020

By The Associated Press Jul. 24, 2021 11:07 AM EDT
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (6-10) CAMP SITE: Santa Clara, California LAST YEAR: The Niners' bid to return to the Super Bowl...

Florida tight end Kyle Pitts, right, holds a jersey with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after he was chosen by the Atlanta Falcons with the fourth pick in the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 29, 2021, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)
Smith focuses on D on last day of 1st draft as Falcons coach

By Charles Odum May. 01, 2021 06:15 PM EDT

FILE - In this Sept. 27, 2020, file photo, San Francisco 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan watches during the second half of the team's NFL football game against the New York Giants in East Rutherford, N.J. The drama about which position the 49ers would target for their first pick of the NFL draft was erased as soon as they traded three first-round picks and a third-rounder to move up to No. 3. The question then turned to which quarterback prospect Shanahan and general manager John Lynch will hitch themselves to with that pick. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun, File)
49ers take Notre Dame G Aaron Banks in 2nd round

By Josh Dubow Apr. 30, 2021 08:59 PM EDT

New Falcons GM Fontenot could select successor to QB Ryan

By The Associated Press Apr. 22, 2021 01:05 PM EDT
4. ATLANTA FALCONS (4-12) LAST SEASON: Coach Dan Quinn and general manager Thomas Dimitroff were fired following an 0-5 start. The Falcons...

49ers looking for franchise QB after trade up to No. 3 spot

By The Associated Press Apr. 22, 2021 12:41 PM EDT
3. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (6-10) LAST SEASON: The Niners' bid to return to the Super Bowl was derailed by a spate of early-season injuries....

FILE - In this Sunday, Dec. 6, 2020 file photo, Atlanta Falcons center Alex Mack (51) works during the first half of an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints in Atlanta. Former Pro Bowl center Alex Mack is reuniting with coach Kyle Shanahan after signing a one-year contract with the San Francisco 49ers. The 49ers announced the three-year deal with Mack on Thursday, March 18, 2021 one day after agreeing to give left tackle Trent Williams a $138.1 million, six-year deal to remain in San Francisco.(AP Photo/Danny Karnik, File)
Falcons hope low-cost free agent class will make big splash

By Paul Newberry Mar. 25, 2021 01:46 PM EDT

FILE - In this Sunday, Dec. 6, 2020 file photo, Atlanta Falcons center Alex Mack (51) works during the first half of an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints in Atlanta. Former Pro Bowl center Alex Mack is reuniting with coach Kyle Shanahan after signing a one-year contract with the San Francisco 49ers. The 49ers announced the three-year deal with Mack on Thursday, March 18, 2021 one day after agreeing to give left tackle Trent Williams a $138.1 million, six-year deal to remain in San Francisco.(AP Photo/Danny Karnik, File)
49ers sign 6-time Pro Bowl C Alex Mack to 3-year deal

By Josh Dubow Mar. 18, 2021 08:19 PM EDT

FILE - Arizona Cardinals running back Kenyan Drake (41) dives over the line for a touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers during the second half of an NFL football game in Glendale, Ariz., in this Saturday, Dec. 26, 2020, file photo. The Las Vegas Raiders have agreed to a two-year deal worth up to $14.5 million with free agent running back Kenyan Drake to complement starter Josh Jacobs. A person familiar with the deal says Drake will be guaranteed $11 million under the deal agreed to on Thursday, March 18, 2021. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal hasn't been announced. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri, File)
Let's Talk: NFL free agents and traded players speak up

By Barry Wilner Mar. 18, 2021 05:33 PM EDT

Falcons face more painful salary-cap cuts before free agency

By The Associated Press Mar. 12, 2021 04:34 PM EST
ATLANTA FALCONS (4-12) UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: C Alex Mack, RB Todd Gurley, S Ricardo Allen, OG James Carpenter, DE Allen Bailey, DE...

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan (2) throws a pass against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)
Falcons interview Chiefs' Eric Bieniemy, 49ers' Robert Saleh

By Charles Odum Jan. 04, 2021 06:14 PM EST

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) throws during the first half of an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions, Saturday, Dec. 26, 2020, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Lon Horwedel)
Red-hot Buccaneers not looking past Falcons to playoffs

By Fred Goodall Dec. 31, 2020 06:16 PM EST

Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) throws a pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the New York Jets, Sunday, Dec. 27, 2020, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Corey Sipkin)
Browns lose CB Ward for Steelers game after positive test

By Tom Withers Dec. 31, 2020 10:55 AM EST

FILE - In this Oct. 18, 2020, file photo, Atlanta Falcons interim head coach Raheem Morris watches during the first half of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings in Minneapolis. Morris says it is good to know he will be interviewed for the permanent job after the season. He says he considers his job performance and his regular conversations with team president Rich McKay and team owner Arthur Blank to be interviews for the job as he prepares for Sunday's game at Kansas City (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn, File)
The Latest: 2 Temple basketball games postponed due to virus

By The Associated Press Dec. 31, 2020 10:24 AM EST

Atlanta Falcons cornerback A.J. Terrell breaks up an incomplete pass intended for Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 27, 2020, in Kansas City. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Koo's miss adds to Falcons' long list of ways to lose games

By George Henry Dec. 28, 2020 05:00 PM EST