FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- The Atlanta Falcons Wednesday named Lionel Vital Assistant Director of Player Personnel.
Vital joins the Falcons following a three-year stint with the Ravens as a national scout.
“First, I would like to thank Mr. (Arthur) Blank, Thomas Dimitroff and Head Coach Mike Smith for this outstanding opportunity,” Vital said. “I am excited about the challenge of the position and the positive direction the organization is headed.”
In February of 2007, he was honored with the inaugural Fritz Pollard Alliance Scouting Award which is given to the top African American scout in both the AFC and NFC. In 2006, Vital was responsible for Baltimore’s fifth-round draft selection of safety Dawan Landry, who tied a Ravens rookie record and led all NFL rookies with five interceptions.
“I’ve known Lionel for a number of years and he is a highly-reputable talent evaluator who has worked with the likes of Bill Parcells, Ozzie Newsome, Dick Haley and Bill Belichick,” Dimitroff said. “We are thrilled to have Lionel join our staff.”
From 2000-04, Vital served as Assistant Director of College Scouting for the New England Patriots where he worked closely with Vice President of Player Personnel Scott Pioli and Dimitroff. Vital covered the Southeast region as a scout for the New York Jets from 1997-99 following his first stint with the Baltimore Ravens as a college scout in 1996.
Vital entered the professional scouting ranks as a talent scout with the Cleveland Browns from 1991-95. Prior to his start in the NFL, he spent two seasons as Director of Player Personnel for the Montreal Machine of the World League (1990-91).
A graduate of Nicholls State, Vital was selected by the Washington Redskins as a running back in the seventh round of the 1985 NFL Draft. His playing career includes stints with the Redskins (1985-87), Buffalo Bills (1987), Detroit Lions (1988), Saskatchewan Rough Riders of the CFL (1989-90) and also Major League Baseball’s Chicago White Sox.
