Thomas Dimitroff took 2 years to go from the hot seat to secure as the Falcons’ GM

In Thomas Dimitroff’s first five seasons with the Atlanta Falcons, the team had a winning record in each year and earned a postseason in four of those seasons. Then the wheels fell off and Mike Smith was fired as head coach, but Dimitroff has since managed to piece things back together and earned himself a three-year contract extension Monday.

“I want to thank [Falcons owner] Arthur [Blank] for demonstrating the confidence in what we are building here,” Dimitroff said in a release. “I have always believed it is about a head coach and general manager sharing a common vision on the type of players they are looking for and how to build a roster. The partnership with Dan [Quinn] has formed quickly and I know we are building a team here that everyone can be proud of. I understand that we still have work to do, but I know we have the people in place to reach the ultimate goal here in Atlanta.”

On Monday, Quinn said that the partnership he and Dimitroff share is part of the reason he ended up in Atlanta.

“It was actually the arrangement that we both were looking for, to have a partnership together where we’d see the team together and evaluate players, and if we had disagreements, we would work them out together,” Quinn said. “But as far as reporting goes, I wanted to be the coach and partner up with a general manager to help assist in every which way that we do it. So it’s been a good fit for the two of us.”

Dimitroff said he’s pleased that Arthur Blank believes in the partnership Dimitroff and Quinn have built.

“I’m excited that Arthur believed in the partnership between myself and Coach Quinn,” Dimitroff said. “We’re making some good headway, moving in the right direction in many ways — the roster and how we’re developing this team.”

The Falcons first fell apart in 2013 with a surprising 4-12 year just one season after going 13-3 and advancing to the NFC Championship. Much of the lack of success was blamed on injuries, but when Atlanta only rebounded with a 6-10 season in 2014, Mike Smith was shown the door.

Many thought Dimitroff could follow Smith out of Atlanta and some fans even petitioned for Blank to hire a new general manager, but he was allowed to keep his job.

But even when the Falcons surprised with an 8-8 record in Quinn’s first season, Dimitroff was still feeling the heat heading into the 2016 season after a midseason collapse in 2015.

“Of course I’m on the hot seat,” Dimitroff told Talk Fame Sports Network in June. “Every year I’m on the hot seat. I believe that 100 percent. I believe anyone who doesn’t think they are maybe just won a Super Bowl. But I think most of us know that it’s a very urgent league now.”

Nine weeks into the 2016 season, no team has more points than the Falcons and they lead the NFC South with a 6-3 record.

With the extension, Dimitroff and Quinn are now tied together through the 2019 season and given the team’s success so far in 2016, there is plenty of reason for the Falcons to be confident about the pair.