The Atlanta Falcons are shaking up their personnel department following another disappointing season.
Under Dimitroff the Falcons roster has fallen into a state of limited talent thanks to a series of bad drafts. Scott Pioli will now oversee pro and college scouting and command the teams NFL Draft efforts while Dimitroff will retain management responsibility for salary cap, player affairs, equipment, sports medicine and performance, and video activities.
“After reviewing all of our options – internally and externally – I have no reservations that this is the best approach to setting up our player personnel groups for future success,” said Falcons Owner and Chairman Arthur Blank. “It maximizes the talents of Scott, allows for more time and focus on all areas of our football operations groups managed by Thomas, and is in line with other player personnel groups in the league.
“While this decision was not tied to the head coach search currently underway, we also believe that independent thinking and collaboration will contribute to taking us to the next level in our league. Therefore, our new head coach and Thomas will report separately to me.”
Taken at face value this could be a precursor to the Falcons landing Josh McDaniels as their next head coach. All three of them worked together in New England previously.
“Scott is a trusted partner who has proven himself, time and again, during his 23-year NFL career,” said Dimitroff. “His thumbprint can be found on a number of Pro Bowl players during his NFL career, and he was a key contributor to the remarkable Super Bowl success of the Patriots during his tenure there. We look forward, and I do personally, to the many contributions he will make to our pro, college scouting and NFL Draft efforts going forward.”
