Falcons Profile Picture Draws Nazi-Era Comparisons

The Atlanta Falcons’ latest social media profile picture has prompted comparisons to Nazi-era imagery and a wave of jokes online, though the team has not announced a new official logo or explained the graphic’s purpose. The Falcons posted the image on X on October 21 with the caption “New PFP.” It shows a black falcon against red, white and gold-toned stripes. The emblem draws on a design from the team’s early years in the 1960s and 1970s, according to the team’s description cited in reporting. Some users said the graphic resembled imagery associated with Nazi Germany. Others responded with jokes, including the phrase “the Bird Reich.” These were reactions and interpretations by social media users; the reports do not establish that the Falcons intended a Nazi reference. The post had received more than 11 million views, 5,300 reposts and 4,000 comments by early Thursday afternoon, according to one report. A later account put the view count at 13.2 million. The figures reflect different observation times. Users also shared edited images in response. The team has not commented on the criticism. The image appears as the account’s profile picture and as a background on the Falcons’...