Atlanta Falcons: Get to know new general manager Terry Fontenot

With the Atlanta Falcons officially hiring Terry Fontenot as their new general manager, get to know the new voice of the front office in Atlanta.

Just a few weeks into the 2021 offseason, the Atlanta Falcons have filled their vacant spot at general manager to lead the organization.

After going through a search for a new voice at the helm of the front office during most of the 2020 season and increasingly with the offseason underway, Atlanta announced on Tuesday it has hired former New Orleans Saints front office guy Terry Fontenot to take over as general manager.

The hiring of Fontenot comes on the heels of the Falcons hiring Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator Arthur Smith last week, cementing the new regime that is now in place both on the sideline and in the front office moving forward in Atlanta.

The Falcons were required to wait until the Saints were done in the playoffs to be able to officially announce the addition of Fontenot as general manager. New Orleans’ loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers over the weekend in the NFC Divisional Round paved the way for the two sides to ultimately finalize this move.

With a new voice taking things over in the front office in 2021 and beyond, let’s get to know Fontenot and outline his career to this point as he now takes on the task of trying to turn things around in Atlanta and position the franchise in a good spot leading into the future.

What are the Atlanta Falcons getting in general manager Terry Fontenot?

Fontenot, who just turned 40 years old, comes to the Falcons after spending the last 18 seasons with New Orleans in various roles. In 2020, he completed his first season as the Saints vice president and assistant general manager for pro personnel.

With the Saints, Fontenot worked closely with general manager Mickey Loomis to help create a perennial playoff team highlighted with talent on both sides of the ball. The process of creating a dominant team annual stemmed from the team’s abilities to mix both trade acquisitions and players through the draft and free agency.

When it comes to Fontenot specifically, he has worked with preparing for the league’s annual draft while scouting prospects, current players and teams in general throughout his career. That is something that will be very valuable for the Falcons organization moving forward, especially given the success New Orleans has had recently with Fontenot as a part of that front office.

Fontenot was identified early on as a candidate for the vacant position in Atlanta, going on to officially interview for the general manager spot on Jan. 6 and later being named one of three finalists for the job along with former Houston Texans general manager Rick Smith and Los Angeles Rams director of scouting Brad Holmes.

After an 0-5 start to the season, the Falcons fired previous general manager Thomas Dimitroff while officially opening up a search for a new general manager from that point on. With the hiring of Fontenot, he becomes the first black general manager for the organization since its inception in 1965.

Not only does Fontenot provide a new face and voice to the Falcons organization, but he brings in a fresh perspective and a history of winning along with him to Atlanta to try and turn things around in 2021 and beyond now leading the Falcons front office.