Atlanta Falcons Front Office Staff

Perhaps best known as co-founder of The Home Depot, Arthur Blank is now widely recognized for his diverse businesses. Named by ESPN as the 2021 Sports Philanthropist of the Year, Blank is a tireless advocate of using purpose and profit hand-in-hand to benefit the communities around him. Blank has been distinguished by Forbes as one of the World’s 100 Greatest Living Business Minds 2017, Sports Business Journal’s Executive of the Year 2018 and Sports Business Journal’s one of the 50 Most Influential People in Sports 2016, 2017, 2018.

In addition to the Blank Family Foundation, Blank’s Family of Businesses includes the Atlanta Falcons and Atlanta United; the nationwide PGA TOUR Superstore; three ranches in Montana, Mountain Sky Guest Ranch, West Creek Ranch and Paradise Valley Ranch; and Mercedes-Benz Stadium, which hosted the 2019 Super Bowl and is home to the Falcons and Atlanta United.

Stephen Cannon, among Atlanta Business Chronicles 2019 Most Admired CEO’s, serves as the Vice Chairman of AMB Sports and Entertainment (AMBSE) assuming the day-to-day leadership of Mercedes-Benz Stadium (MBS), Atlanta Falcons Football Club, United Soccer Properties and PGA TOUR Superstore. AMBSE serves as a for-profit holding group under the Arthur M. Blank Family of Businesses. Prior to joining AMBSE in 2016, Cannon served as president and chief executive officer of Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) and was responsible for leading operations that generated record sales with annual revenues exceeding $20 billion.

Chief Executive Officer of AMBSE and Chief Executive Officer of Atlanta Falcons, Rich McKay, has been a fixture in the National Football League for more than 30 years. One of the League’s most influential executives, McKay joined the Atlanta Falcons in 2004. During McKay’s tenure, the Falcons have been to the playoffs seven times, been to three NFC Championship games and participated in Super Bowl LI. McKay was hired by Owner and Chairman Arthur M. Blank in 2004 and served his first four years as the team’s general manager. He was promoted to president and chief executive officer in 2011. That same year, national columnist and creator of Monday Morning Quarterback (MMQB), Peter King, named McKay number 10 out of the 100 most influential people in the NFL. In 2019, The Athletic put McKay in The NFL’s 100 most influential business people of all-time.

Having started with the Atlanta Falcons as an intern after earning a bachelor’s degree from Louisiana State University and master’s degree from Georgia State University, Beadles begins his 29th year (2023) with the club being named president of the team. In his almost three decades with the organization, Beadles has held numerous roles with the Falcons and AMBSE, including being part of the finance team that orchestrated the transfer of ownership of the Falcons from the Rankin Smith family to Arthur M. Blank in 2001. Known league wide as an expert in team and facility operations and finance, Beadles has built unique trust among his peers, colleagues and Blank himself on the strength of his financial acumen, business savvy, versatility and personal values.

The Atlanta Falcons announced Tuesday, January 19, Terry Fontenot has been named the team’s general manager.

Fontenot joins the Falcons after spending the last 18 seasons as a member of the New Orleans Saints organization. He worked his way through the organization’s ranks, starting out as a marketing intern before switching to the scouting department and climbing the ladder from intern to pro scout, and eventually advancing to vice president/assistant general manager of pro personnel.