The New York Jets have conducted an interview with Thomas Dimitroff, the former general manager of the Atlanta Falcons, as they seek to fill their GM position. The Jets confirmed that this meeting has taken place, marking Dimitroff as the first specific candidate to engage in discussions regarding the role. Dimitroff served as the GM for the Falcons from 2008 until the middle of the 2020 season, during which he played a crucial role in constructing the team that advanced to the Super Bowl in the 2016 season.
Joe Douglas, the Jets’ previous general manager, was dismissed on November 19 after leading the team to a challenging record of 30 wins and 64 losses over more than five years, which included no winning seasons. Following his departure, Phil Savage, who has been a senior football adviser for the Jets since 2019, took over as the interim general manager.
In addition to the GM search, the Jets are also looking for a new head coach after Robert Saleh was let go on October 8, with defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich stepping in as the interim coach. The Jets recently secured a victory against Jacksonville, winning 32-25, but their overall record stands at 4-10 this season, with a disappointing 2-7 record since Saleh’s firing.
To aid in their dual searches for a general manager and head coach, Jets owner Woody Johnson has enlisted the expertise of The 33rd Team, a consulting group founded by former Jets GM Mike Tannenbaum. Tannenbaum, alongside former NFL executives Rick Spielman and others, is assisting in identifying and evaluating suitable candidates for both positions while coordinating interviews.
Reports indicate that the Jets are planning to interview Jon Robinson, who previously served as the GM for the Tennessee Titans, as well as Louis Riddick, who has held roles in front offices for Washington and Philadelphia and currently works as an analyst at ESPN.
Before his tenure with the Falcons, Dimitroff worked as the director of college scouting for the New England Patriots from 2003 to 2007. He notably drafted quarterback Matt Ryan with the third overall pick during his initial offseason with the Falcons, leading to five consecutive successful seasons for the team and four playoff appearances within his first five years. Dimitroff was also responsible for a significant trade in the 2011 NFL Draft, moving up from the 26th to the 6th pick to secure wide receiver Julio Jones, who emerged as one of the top playmakers in the league.
Under Dimitroff’s leadership, Atlanta reached the Super Bowl in February 2017, where they held a significant lead of 28-3 in the third quarter before New England, led by Tom Brady, mounted a comeback to win the game 34-28 in overtime.
In January 2022, Dimitroff also contributed to establishing SumerSports, a football analytics company based in Atlanta.