Head coach Dan Quinn of the Atlanta Falcons celebrates with general manager Thmoas Dimitroff
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Head coach Dan Quinn of the Atlanta Falcons celebrates with general manager Thmoas Dimitroff
The Atlanta Falcons hired current general manager Terry Fontenot on January 19th, 2021. Prior to joining Atlanta, Fontenot spent 18 years as a member of the New Orleans Saints organization. Now former Falcons’ general manager Thomas Dimitroff is returning the favor.
“One of the spiciest rivalries in the NFL is getting a little spicier,” writes Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio. “Former Falcons G.M. Thomas Dimitroff, who built a perennial playoff contender and a Super Bowl team in his 13 seasons in Atlanta, has joined the Saints as a consultant.”
According to NFL insider Albert Breer, Dimitroff has spent the past three years after being fired by the Falcons as the CEO of SummerSports, but left the company in April and has been with New Orleans since April.
“In the latest hiring cycle, Dimitroff interviewed for the G.M. job with the Jets and the Titans. In a league where coaches routinely get recycles, it remains difficult for General Managers to get a second bite at the apple — even those who had sustained success like Dimitroff, a two-time NFL executive of the year,” Florio continued.
“In New Orleans, Dimitroff with assist long-time G.M. Mickey Loomis with all facets of the operation.”
Saints Start Season Last In Power Rankings
If there’s a silver lining to the former Falcons’ decision maker joining the bad guys, it’s that this season seems like a wash for the team in New Orleans. They enter the season with the lowest win total in Vegas, and as power ranking season kicks off, Florio thinks the Saints are the worst team in the league.
“It’s not a good sign that Tyler Shough didn’t beat out Spencer Rattler,” Florio writes after planting Saints at No. 32.
However, Florio thinks the decision to bring in Dimitroff could pay off big time during draft season.
“It can’t hurt — and it could greatly help,” Florio predicts. “The Saints have work to do in their fourth season post-Sean Payton. And Dimitroff, who picked Matt Ryan in his first draft with the Falcons, could be instrumental in the decisions to be made after 2025 regarding the future of the position.”
“Especially if the Saints end up earning a high pick in the 2026 draft.”
Thomas Dimitroff Draft Success In Atlanta
Dimitroff was an accomplished drafter during his time in Atlanta.
In his first season calling the shots, Dimitroff drafted quarterback Matt Ryan third overall. Ryan went on to win an MVP and throw for more than 60,000 yards in the NFL.
A few years later, Dimitroff struck gold once again selecting future Hall Of Famer Julio Jones out of Alabama with the sixth overall selection.
After that it was consistent success, especially on the defensive side of the ball, that defined the Dimitroff era.
He hit on Grady Jarrett of the fifth round of the 2015 NFL Draft. The next year he brought in two long time staples on the Falcons’ pass rush with De’Vondre Campbell and Deion Jones on day two and three. He drafted Foyesade Oluokun in the sixth round in 2018.
The final two first round selections of his career with Atlanta were Chris Lindstrom and AJ Terrell. Two players that are still starting several years later.