Jets interview ex-Falcons exec Thomas Dimitroff for GM opening

The Jets kicked off interviews for their new general manager with former Falcons GM Thomas Dimitroff on Monday.Dimitroff was the boss in Atlanta from 2008-20 and the Falcons won 109 games in his time there with six playoff appearances and one Super Bowl appearance.The 58-year-old is the first known candidate to interview for the job that opened when the team fired Joe Douglas last month.The Jets are also expected to interview former Titans GM Jon Robinson this week and ESPN analyst Louis Riddick in the near future.

The Jets are able to begin interviews with candidates not currently employed by NFL teams.They will have to wait until after the season to talk to anyone who is currently working in the league.Dimitroff was the Patriots director of college scouting from 2003-07 before getting the Falcons job.

He drafted quarterback Matt Ryan third overall in 2008 for his first pick.His biggest move as GM was the blockbuster trade during the 2011 draft to move from 26 to 6 to draft wide receiver Julio Jones.The high point of Dimitroff’s time with Atlanta came in 2016 when the Falcons went to the Super Bowl.

They famously blew a 28-3 lead to the Patriots in that game and things went downhill from there.Dimitroff was fired after the Falcons started 0-5 in 2020.The Jets were missing a key defensive piece on Sunday with cornerback D.J.

Reed missing the game due to a groin injury.There was optimism that Reed would play late last week but then he was classified as doubtful on Friday and ruled out on Saturday.Rookie Qwan’tez Stiggers started in his place and split time with Kendall Sheffield, who was signed off the practice squad on Saturday.“It just wasn’t quite right, you know,” interim coach Jeff Ulbrich said of Reed’s groin, “and it’s a position that from a physical standpoint, if you’re not quite right, it’s not worth even playing around with and at the same time, we got great confidence in Stiggers and Sheff and we wanted to take a long look at them...