Atlanta Falcons retro logo post draws Nazi-era imagery comparisons
The Falcons’ vintage profile image sparked online backlash, while the team said it had not introduced a new logo.
By Sal Moretti · Money Reporter
3 min read
The Atlanta Falcons retro logo is stirring backlash after the NFL team changed its X profile image on Oct. 21 to a vintage falcon design framed by red, white and black stripes. The post, captioned “New PFP,” prompted online users to compare the artwork with Nazi-era German military imagery, NBC News and FOX 5 Atlanta reported.
The comparison came from commenters reacting to the design, not from any statement by the team. NBC News reported that the reaction included World War II-themed jokes, while FOX 5 said some users likened the artwork to Nazi-era symbols.
Is the Atlanta Falcons retro logo a new official logo?
No new official logo had been announced. A Falcons representative told NBC News that the team did not have a “new logo” and declined to comment further. FOX 5 Atlanta likewise reported that the club had not explained the profile image’s purpose.
The image was a social-media profile-picture update, not a confirmed permanent rebrand. The Falcons also used it as the background on their official website, according to FOX 5, but the team did not say whether either use marked a broader change to its visual identity.
An old falcon design returns
The artwork appears to revisit the franchise’s early look. NBC News reported that it seemed intended as a nod to the 1966 expansion Falcons, while FOX 5 said the emblem dated to the team’s early years in the 1960s and 1970s.
Sports-logo historian Chris Creamer told NBC News he saw no ill intent behind the post and said he could not imagine the Falcons seeking Nazi alignment.
The timing may be tied to the team’s throwback plans, though that connection was not confirmed. NBC News reported that Atlanta was scheduled to wear throwback uniforms against the San Francisco 49ers, and FOX 5 said those uniforms were inspired by the 1966 season. FOX 5 also reported that the club had not said whether the profile image was connected to that game.
A repeat of a 2024 reaction
This was not the first time a Falcons profile-picture change prompted such comparisons. FOX 5 reported that a September 2024 update, featuring a red version of the team’s throwback helmet logo, drew a similar response online.
The latest post quickly traveled beyond the team’s usual fan circle. By early Thursday afternoon, FOX 5 reported more than 11 million views, more than 5,300 reposts and more than 4,000 comments. Those figures were a snapshot at the time of reporting.
For now, the facts are narrower than the online storm: the Falcons revived a vintage design in a profile image, viewers objected to its resemblance to Nazi-era imagery, and the team said it had not launched a new logo.
This story draws on original reporting from NBC News.