The Atlanta Falcons have parted ways with longtime general manager Thomas Dimitroff.
Thomas Dimitroff’s tenure as the Atlanta Falcons general manager came to an end on Sunday.
Dimitroff was fired alongside former head coach Dan Quinn by owner Arthur Blank. Since arriving in Flowery Branch in 2008, Dimitroff drafted several Pro Bowlers and saw the Falcons reach the NFC playoffs six times over that span. However, the team’s downward spiral in the last two-plus years can no longer be swept under the rug. Blank had no choice but to clean house and start over.
Here are five candidates to potentially replace Thomas Dimitroff in Atlanta.
Mike Borgonzi: Kansas City Chiefs director of football operations
After diving in deeply with the Bill Belichick tree in Dimitroff, it may serve the Falcons to go with someone from the Ron Wolf tree. The Kansas City Chiefs are seen as the best team in the NFL. Brett Veach is one of the best general managers. Mike Borgonzi may get his shot to build his own team soon. The potential package deal with Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy is enticing.
Daniel Jeremiah: NFL Network draft analyst, former NFL scout
There are two things going for Daniel Jeremiah in his candidacy. One, it is the success of his NFL Network predecessor Mike Mayock with the Las Vegas Raiders. And two, the NFL organization he’s best associated with is the first-class Baltimore Ravens. Jeremiah is well-connected in the industry and should have a leg up on the opposition when it comes to drafting great players.
Dan Morgan: Buffalo Bills director of player personnel
One dark horse candidate to replace Dimitroff is Dan Morgan of the Buffalo Bills. The former NFL linebacker has been part of Buffalo’s new winning culture under head coach Sean McDermott and general manager Brandon Beane. Though he may not want to rebuild a rival of the Carolina Panthers, he’d present an interesting tandem with Bills offensive coordinator Brian Daboll.
George Paton: Minnesota Vikings assistant general manger
For years, George Paton has patiently waited for his turn to be an NFL general manager. He works under a very good one in Rick Spielman with the Minnesota Vikings. Though he may not be the splashy hire Dirty Bird Nation will be looking for, Paton is certainly qualified to get his shot at some point. With Minnesota not having a great season, it may be time for him to leave the Twin Cities.
Louis Riddick: ESPN Monday Night Football analyst, former NFL scouting director
The one name everybody keeps talking about for every job in the world is ESPN’s Louis Riddick. Though he’s been in an on-camera role for years, one of the new voices on Monday Night Football might have an opportunity to build something special in Atlanta. Keep in mind Riddick played for Atlanta twice in the early-to-mid-1990s. Pairing him with Bieniemy is definitely in play in 2021.
As we patiently wait for this disaster of a 2020 NFL season to end in two months, former Falcons general manager and current team president Rich McKay can be trusted to help Blank make the right hire here. Dimitroff did great work replacing him and McKay did help hire the best coach in franchise history in Mike Smith back in 2008. 2021 will surely be different in Flowery Branch.
There are plenty of great options to replace Dimitroff as the Falcons’ general manager in 2021.