Biography

As a 21 year veteran in scouting and player personnel, the Falcons will continue to lean on the experience of Lionel Vital in 2011. Vital heads into his fourth season as the club’s Assistant Director of Player Personnel. Vital continues to work closely with General Manager Thomas Dimitroff on most college scouting matters as he is an integral part of the personnel decision making team. His responsbilities also entail evaluating the top 150 college players in a national scouting capacity. He will also grade the top unrestricted NFL free agents at all positions and work on comparatives, as well as special projects with Dimitroff.

From 2005-07, Vital served in his second stint with the Ravens and covered schools across the country as a National Scout while being responsible for reporting on defensive linemen. During his time in Baltimore, he was honored with the inaugural Fritz Pollard Alliance Scouting Award, which is given to the top African American scout each in the AFC and NFC.

Vital served as the Assistant Director of College Scouting with the New England Patriots from 2001-04 after maintaining duties as a National College Scout in 2000. It was during his tenure with New England that he worked directly with Vice President of Player Personnel Scott Pioli and Falcons General Manager Thomas Dimitroff.

Prior to his stint in New England, Vital spent three seasons as a talent scout with the New York Jets, covering the Southeast region from 1997-99. He entered the scouting ranks with the Cleveland Browns in 1991 and spent five seasons as a talent Scout, after being hired by Head Coach Bill Belichick. Vital followed Belichick and the Browns when the team moved to Baltimore for its inaugural season in 1996, working as a College Scout. For two seasons (1990-91) Vital was the Director of Player Personnel for the Montreal Machine in the World League of American Football.

A native of Loreauville, Louisiana, Vital graduated from Nicholls State and was selected by the Washington Redskins as a running back in the seventh round of the 1985 NFL Draft.