Former Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan is now the team’s new president of football, jump-starting hopefully another successful era of Falcons football under his watch. This time, Ryan will be guiding
the team from the front office rather than the field.
Ryan’s position will entail guiding a yet-to-be-named general manager and head coach. It remains to be seen who the Falcons will pick for either spot, but at least as far as the GM is concerned, it’s likely to be a first-timer. Rarely nowadays do you see “retread” GMs in the NFL, as you often do among head coaches. There have been a few in recent years, such as Tom Telesco, Dave Gettleman, John Dorsey, and Martin Mayhew, but in nearly every single case, their second stint goes much worse than their first.
It’s essentially a gig that offers one opportunity, and GMs must make the most of it because the odds of getting a second shot are low. Typically, former GMs go back to being assistant GMs, scouting directors, or other mid-level scouts. The Falcons have themselves recruited quite a few former GMs over the past decade, including Scott Pioli, Ryan Pace, Phil Emery, and Ruston Webster, to bolster their front office.
Do the Falcons need more experience within their revamped front office structure?
Given the likelihood of an inexperienced, first-time GM joining the nascent Ryan in the Falcons’ front office, the Falcons may seek to balance their decision-making triumvirate with an experienced head coach. That tracks given recent rumors that the Falcons may be targeting either former Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh or his former AFC North counterpart, Kevin Stefanski. While having a more experienced coach patrolling the sideline could benefit the team, they might seek a seasoned scout to supplement Ryan and the newly appointed general manager, serving as an advisor.
This idea germinated in my mind when former AJC columnist Terence Moore suggested recently that former Falcons GM Thomas Dimitroff is a perfect fit for a major role with the Falcons. And before you break out the pitchforks and torches, it does make quite a bit of sense when you think about it for a second.
Dimitroff’s past record speaks for itself
Dimitroff was the Falcons’ general manager who drafted Ryan and was the architect of the franchise’s greatest era of football. That was prompted by Ryan’s play on the field, but the decisions that Dimitroff made in the front office, too. Some of those decisions include acquiring 13 Pro Bowlers across 14 drafts, including several players like Ryan, Julio Jones, Grady Jarrett, and Jake Matthews, who are among the Mount Rushmore of recent Falcons greats. He was also able to help build two separate teams that were in a position to win championships under two different coaching staffs helmed by Mike Smith and Dan Quinn. Frankly, the last eight seasons without a winning record in Atlanta have made many, myself included, a bit more nostalgic for the “old glory days” with Dimitroff at the helm.
Dimitroff would serve only as an advisor, a role that would allow him to support Ryan and other decision-makers while minimizing his involvement in final decisions. Dimitroff was recently hired to do the same with the New Orleans Saints this past September. That indicates that he’s definitely open for this role, and why not do it with his old franchise?
Advisor roles are common for former GMs
Acting as an advisor is a common role for former GMs around the league. When they don’t seek to return to “lesser” front-office roles, they can often seek an advisory role. Rick Spielman, Joe Douglas, and the late Ted Thompson are great examples of former GMs now serving as advisors to both old and new teams.
Dimitroff isn’t the only potential candidate available for this advisory role, as there is no shortage of former GMs looking for work. Former Houston Texans GM Rick Smith now works as an advisor for Sportsology, the search firm that is helping the Falcons conduct their GM search. That would be another option with some ties to the team. But any old ex-GM won’t do, as the team requires someone with a record of success. Dimitroff has that, and given the assumed trust he has with Ryan from over a decade of working together in Atlanta, it’s hard to imagine a better option.
Whether the Falcons look to bolster this revamped, new-look front office with an accomplished hand like Dimitroff remains to be seen. Ryan and the new GM could easily trust in their own abilities to guide this ship, and no one could fault them for that. But if they are on the lookout for a familiar face with the unique experience of building consistent success with the Atlanta Falcons, I offer that Dimitroff is just a phone call away.
