There aren’t many dumpster fires bigger than the Atlanta Falcons across the National Football League, but the Jets certainly give them a run for their money.
After a rather underwhelming start to the season, given preseason expectations, New York fired their head coach, Robert Saleh, after just five games. The Jets responded by losing seven of their next eight games, completely eliminating themselves from playoff contention, which led to the firing of GM Joe Douglas.
Now, the search begins in New York, with several general manager candidates already being interviewed, one of which will pique the interest of Falcons fans. According to the Jets official Twitter/X account, the team has completed an interview with former Atlanta GM Thomas Dimitroff.
We have completed an interview with Thomas Dimitroff for our General Manager vacancy.
— New York Jets (@nyjets) December 16, 2024
Thomas Dimitroff has been a fixture in the NFL for over three decades. His career gained significant momentum during his time as a national scout for the New England Patriots, where he contributed to two Super Bowl victories. That success paved the way for his first and only general manager position, a role he assumed in 2008 with the Atlanta Falcons and held until 2020.
While the final years of the Dan Quinn-Thomas Dimitroff era left a sour taste for fans, Dimitroff accomplished a lot during his time with the Falcons. He was the architect behind some of the franchise’s most pivotal moves, including drafting Matt Ryan, the greatest player in Falcons history, and orchestrating a blockbuster trade for Julio Jones, a surefire future Hall of Famer.
Under Dimitroff’s leadership, the Falcons made six playoff appearances, captured three NFC South titles, and reached the Super Bowl following the 2016 season. However, that championship run remains overshadowed by the team’s infamous collapse after building a 25-point lead in the second half. Had the Falcons closed out that game, the legacies of Matt Ryan, Dan Quinn, and Thomas Dimitroff would be viewed in an entirely different light. Unfortunately, Atlanta never fully recovered from that heartbreak, and a few years later, both Quinn and Dimitroff were relieved of their duties.
Despite the unceremonious ending, Dimitroff’s tenure in Atlanta stands as the most successful era in franchise history. His vision and decision-making brought the Falcons to the brink of a championship and laid the foundation for sustained competitiveness. Given his track record, Dimitroff likely deserves another opportunity as an NFL general manager.
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Photographer: Jeffrey Vest/Icon Sportswire
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