Super Bowl against Pats ‘dream game’ for Falcons’ Dimitroff
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) — Thomas Dimitroff’s Super Bowl matchup against Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots is far more than an executive facing his former boss and employer.
Dimitroff, the Atlanta Falcons general manager since 2008, has extremely deep ties with Belichick. Dimitroff’s first NFL job was on the Cleveland Browns’ grounds crew when his father was a scout and Belichick was the coach.
Dimitroff climbed the ranks before spending five years as the Patriots’ director of college scouting under Belichick.
Now Belichick and the Patriots stand in the way of the Falcons’ attempt to win their first Super Bowl.
It’s a challenge Dimitroff said he relishes.
“This is kind of a dream game that way, to be able to go against the Patriots and against one of my mentors in this league,” Dimitroff said.
Dimitroff’s respect for his former boss is obvious. He says New England is where he learned the most important lessons that prepared him for the opportunity in Atlanta.
“I learned a lot from my father and from different places I was at, of course, but it wasn’t until I got to the Patriots that I truly realized the idea at the core of the team concept,” he said.
“I mean, I grew up hearing it all the time, but actually being put into effect there in New England, I’ll take that with me forever.”
The Falcons retained Dimitroff when hiring coach Dan Quinn in 2015. The two formed a management partnership that produced Atlanta’s second Super Bowl berth, perhaps faster than either could have predicted.
Though Quinn was given ultimate control of player personnel decisions, the two appear comfortable sharing authority with no apparent sign of friction. Dimitroff calls their relationship a “partnership.”
The coach and GM often are seen in warm embraces on the field after games, and Dimitroff says they talk 10 or more times during a day “on so many levels from policy to acquisitions to how we’re going to replace lights in this (indoor practice) facility.”
Dimitroff says Quinn is “a general manager’s dream to be with.” Quinn has started four rookies and four second-year players on defense this season.
The success of the young players, including rookies Keanu Neal, Dion Jones, De’Vondre Campbell and Brian Poole, is the best reward for a general manager and his scouts.
FALCONS