Falcons fans, just when you thought the Atlanta–New Orleans rivalry couldn’t get any hotter… here we are. The Saints have officially dipped into the Falcons’ past and brought in a familiar face: former Falcons GM Thomas Dimitroff. Yep, the same guy who built that Super Bowl LI roster and ran Atlanta’s front office for over a decade is now consulting for the enemy.
And oh, the drama.
The Rivalry Goes Beyond the Field
We already knew Falcons vs. Saints was one of the nastiest rivalries in the NFL — it’s been pure chaos for decades. But in recent years, the battle has extended far beyond the gridiron and into the front office.
Atlanta has been rolling with Terry Fontenot as GM since 2020, and here’s the kicker — he came straight from the Saints’ front office. Nearly two decades in New Orleans, then boom, he’s building the Falcons roster.
Now, in a wild twist, the Saints just hired the very man Fontenot replaced in Atlanta. Talk about a full-circle moment.
Dimitroff’s Legacy in Atlanta
Love him or not, Dimitroff left a major imprint on the Falcons.
- Drafted Matt Ryan in 2008, who became the face of the franchise for over a decade.
- Put together the team that stormed to the Super Bowl in 2017 (we won’t relive what happened after halftime… you already know).
- Built multiple playoff squads and was even named NFL Executive of the Year twice.
He wasn’t perfect, and things unraveled at the end of his tenure, but make no mistake — he knows how to build a roster.
What It Means for the Saints
The Saints are in the middle of a rough patch. Post-Sean Payton, post-Drew Brees, and with questions all over the quarterback spot, New Orleans is staring at what could be one of their toughest rebuilds in years.
That’s where Dimitroff comes in. He’s not the GM — Mickey Loomis still runs the show — but he’ll be advising, scouting, and helping to reshape a roster that desperately needs direction. If the Saints do end up with a top draft pick in 2026, Dimitroff could be a key voice in who they tab as their next franchise QB.
But here’s the fun part for Falcons fans: if Dimitroff works his “magic,” he’ll be doing it for our biggest rival. If he doesn’t? Well, that’s even sweeter.
The Rivalry Just Leveled Up
Let’s be real: Falcons vs. Saints was already must-watch football. But now? Every matchup has an added layer of spice.
Fontenot — a Saints lifer now running Atlanta.
Dimitroff — a Falcons lifer now consulting in New Orleans.
It’s front office chess at its finest, and fans on both sides will be watching closely to see which ex-executive helps their team rise first.
Final Take
The Falcons are already trending upward with young talent, a revamped culture, and playoff hopes in sight. The Saints? They’re scrambling for answers.
And now they’ve brought in a piece of Falcons history to try and help them figure it out.
For Atlanta fans, this just makes every game against New Orleans even juicier. Rivalry week? Circle it. Mark it in red. Put it in all caps. Because with Dimitroff now on the other sideline, it’s not just Falcons vs. Saints anymore — it’s Falcons vs. Falcons’ past.
And let’s be honest: we wouldn’t have it any other way.
