Thomas Dimitroff Rumors: Latest Buzz and Speculation on GM's Future with Falcons

Despite comments that Thomas Dimitroff would be involved in the Atlanta Falcons' search for a new head coach, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com is reporting that any potential hire will have a say in Dimitroff's future.

Continue for updates.

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New Head Coach To Have Say on GM

Sunday, Jan. 4

Kevin Patra of NFL.com shared an update on Thomas Dimitroff's future in Atlanta after the firing of Mike Smith as head coach:

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NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport reported on NFL Network's GameDay Morning that owner Arthur Blank has told people the new head coach will have a say in the future of the GM, according to sources who have spoken to the owner.

Until that coach is in place and until the organization decides they are a match, Dimitroff's fate hangs in the balance, Rapoport reported.

t's not a shocker to anyone who watched Blank's press conference following coach Smith's dismissal. The owner wouldn't provide assurances about the GM, who was sitting right next to him on the dais. It was an awkward scene, but clearly Blank was making a point.

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Dimitroff To Be Involved in Coaching Search

Monday, Dec. 29

The Atlanta Falcons have decided to retain general manager Thomas Dimitroff despite the team's sharp decline in record over the past two NFL seasons. 

Apparently owner Arthur Blank seen enough to warrant keeping Dimitroff in charge. At the press conference announcing the firing of head coach Mike Smith, Blank confirmed Dimitroff would remain involved with the decision-making process for the Falcons.

The Falcons had an opportunity to qualify for the playoffs thanks to the weakness of the NFC South, but failed to defeat the Carolina Panthers at home in Week 17. It remains to be seen if the Falcons' chances of earning a playoff berth aided in Dimitroff remaining the Falcons' general manager, but he will at least have another opportunity to build a contender for next season.

The Falcons had missed the playoffs in three straight years before Dimitroff arrived in 2008. He proceeded to make Matt Ryan his first draft pick and it helped jump-start an immediate turnaround as Atlanta improved by seven games and returned to the postseason.

As a whole, his first five seasons in charge were a success. The team won at least nine games every year and qualified for the playoffs four times. They only advanced to the NFC Championship Game once during that span, but it appeared the foundation was in place for long-term success.

Things started to fall apart over the past two seasons, though.

The Falcons went from 13-3 in 2012 to 4-12 in 2013. While the team suffered from injuries, the overall struggles proved to be no fluke as they once again failed to reach the .500 mark this season. The only saving grace this time around was the overall ineptitude of the entire division.

Interestingly, as Atlanta's subpar play continued, Dimitroff faded deeper into the background. Michael Cunningham of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution highlighted the silence in late October:

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Dimitroff's silence means Smith is taking all the punches as the public face of the Falcons. Dimitroff and Smith have always presented themselves as a partnership but, with things going bad, Smith is solo. Smith is the middle manager left to explain some of Dimitroff's decisions to the public, while Dimitroff is in the background sending disapproving text messages to reporters who criticize those decisions.

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That was one of the first major signs that problems may be developing behind the scenes. It also suggested changes were potentially on the horizon if the Falcons didn't show progress.

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

The debate, which will surely rage on throughout the Falcons' fanbase, is whether his initial success earned him more leeway. In an era where NFL job security is seemingly always low, two down seasons is oftentimes enough to land somebody on the hot seat.

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

Atlanta still has a strong foundation in place on the offensive side, led by Ryan, Julio Jones and Roddy White. But upgrades are needed elsewhere on that unit and the defense may need a complete overhaul before it's back at a title-contending level.

Dimitroff is going to get a chance to rectify his previous mistakes. Exactly how secure he is in the position is another question. He could very well be on a short leash heading into the 2015 season. If the team starts slow, talk about his future with heat up again.

The Falcons just weren't prepared for a shake up in the front office at this point.