Falcons name Thomas Dimitroff to GM post

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- The Atlanta Falcons today announced that Thomas Dimitroff has been named the club’s new General Manager.

Dimitroff, who joins the Falcons immediately, will direct all aspects of football operations and, working with the new head coach of the Falcons, will have final authority over all personnel decisions related to the signing of free agents, the selection of players in the NFL Draft, trades, terminations, and related decisions. He will also handle coordinating other football-related activities with the head coach.  Dimitroff will report to club President Rich McKay.

“Thomas is a really bright football mind who comes out of the most successful franchise in sports today,” McKay said. “He has an excellent track record of evaluating players, and I certainly look forward to working with him.”

Dimitroff’s first priority will be completing the search for the new head coach.

“I'm extremely excited to have the opportunity to become a part of the Atlanta Falcons organization,” Dimitroff said. “I’m looking forward to working with Mr. Blank and Rich McKay, two highly respected men in the world of professional football."

Falcons Owner & CEO Arthur Blank added, “I want to personally thank Robert Kraft for making Thomas available to us now. In doing so, he is helping us complete our head coach search in a timely manner, and ensuring the most positive and productive relationship between the new head coach and general manager. Robert represents the best of spirit of the NFL and between owners.”

The Falcons also announced a 17-month extension of Rich McKay’s contract as President of the club. McKay, who reports to Blank, will be directly responsible for all non-football operations, including marketing, finance, administration and all other executive duties. He will continue to act as liaison to the League in all football and business-related matters, as well as direct the Falcons’ efforts related to future stadium plans.

“Rich is among an elite group of NFL executives with the length and depth of experience he has, both as a general manager and a senior business manager, and this will serve Thomas well as he transitions to the Falcons,” Blank said. “We’re happy to extend Rich’s contract, particularly given his demonstrated commitment to the Falcons, and we’re depending on him to guide our club in many important business areas moving forward.

An 18-year player personnel veteran, Dimitroff comes to Atlanta from the New England Patriots where he spent six seasons in total, and the last five as Director of College Scouting. In this position, he was responsible for overseeing area scouts who evaluate all of the nation’s college prospects while tracking the development and availability of drafted players.

Many of the players responsible for New England’s NFL-best 17-0 record, following last night’s 31-20 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars in an AFC Divisional Playoff game, were scouted, evaluated, and later drafted at Dimitroff’s recommendation. Some of those players include: CB Asante Samuel, S Brandon Merriweather, G Logan Mankins, C Dan Koppen, RB Laurence Maroney, TE Ben Watson, CB Ellis Hobbs III, DE Ty Warren, and NT Vince Wilfork. During his five years as the Director of College Scouting, the Patriots had a 75-17 record, and they won the Super Bowl in the 2003 and 2004 seasons.

For nine seasons prior to his tenure with New England, Dimitroff served in the scouting departments of three different NFL teams. His first NFL personnel opportunity came with the Kansas City Chiefs as a part-time scout in 1993. One year later, he was given a full-time opportunity as an area scout for the Detroit Lions where he served until 1997. Before being hired by the Patriots, Dimitroff worked in the scouting department of the Cleveland Browns from 1998-2001.

Dimitroff can credit the beginning of his scouting experience to the Canadian Football League where he worked during the 1990 and 1991 seasons. In 1992, he moved to the World League where he scouted all NFL, CFL and World League rosters while tracking player transactions. He also served two seasons as the scouting coordinator for the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

Dimitroff played football throughout college and captained his team at the University of Guelph (Canada) from 1987-1989. He was born in Barberton, Ohio, and is the son of Tom Dimitroff, who was a long-time personnel scout for the Cleveland Browns and an original member of the Boston Patriots in 1960.

Dimitroff will be available to the Atlanta media next week. Please contact the Falcons Communications Department regarding the date, time and location for Dimitroff’s press briefing.