There was some speculation before the end of the regular season that the Falcons might part ways with General Manager Thomas Dimitroff, but owner Arthur Blank opted to keep Dimitroff in place.
Blank said he believed in “maintaining the continuity” of the relationship between Dimitroff and coach Dan Quinn after seeing “positive steps forward this year.” Still, the Falcons haven’t had a winning season since 2012 and they’ve brought in two former NFL General Managers to a front office that already included another one in Scott Pioli, which doesn’t leave Dimitroff with much doubt about the need to do better if continuity is to be the cry again after next season.
“Again, I’ve said this to you for years now, I believe every year is [make or break],” Dimitroff said. “That’s what I believe. I believe this year, just like last year, is about the success of this organization. That’s my responsibility. There’s no doubt in my mind that I look at it every year as I need to produce in order to keep my job. That’s just the way it is.”
Dimitroff said he’s “made mistakes here I have to be accountable for” and pointed to the 2012 draft class headed by second-round center Peter Konz as a particular disappointment. As a result of those mistakes, he feels “criticism is warranted” and it’s clear he understands that he has to have more hits than misses this offseason if he’s going to remain in Atlanta.