U of G Grad Chosen Top NFL Executive
February 10, 2011 - News Release
A University of Guelph alumnus has been named the National Football League’s (NFL) executive of the year. It’s the second time in three seasons that the honour has gone to Thomas Dimitroff, general manager of the Atlanta Falcons.
Dimitroff, who received a bachelor of arts degree from Guelph in 1990, played five seasons for the Gryphons and captained the team for three years from 1987 to 1989. His family roots run deep into Gryphon football because his father, Tom Dimitroff Sr., coached the Gryphons from 1979 to 1983, and his brother, Randy, BA ’86, played for the Gryphons when they won the 1984 Vanier Cup. Randy’s son, Dillon, is currently on the Gryphon squad.
The NFL award, handed out annually by the Sporting News, recognizes Thomas Dimitroff Jr. for his role in building the Falcons since 2008. Atlanta has gone from a team that never had consecutive winning records to one with three straight winning seasons. The Falcons went 13-3 in 2010, the best record in the Northern Football Conference, before losing to Green Bay in the playoffs.
Among the players Dimitroff has drafted are quarterback Matt Ryan, tackle Sam Baker and linebacker Curtis Lofton. He also traded for Pro Bowl running back Michael Turner and tight end Tony Gonzalez.
Since 2008, Atlanta has had a 33-15 record, tied for third best in the NFL.
Dimitroff began his career as a scout in the Canadian Football League, moving on to the World League, where he scouted all NFL, CFL and World League rosters. He served in the scouting departments for three different NFL teams, landing in Boston with the New England Patriots. He helped the Patriots claim back-to-back Super Bowl victories in 2003 and 2004 and an undefeated 2007 season before he left to join the Falcons in 2008.
For media questions, contact Communications and Public Affairs: Lori Bona Hunt, 519-824-4120, Ext. 53338, or lhunt@uoguelph.ca, or Deirdre Healey, Ext. 56982 or dhealey@uoguelph.ca.
