Falcons interview Saints' Fontenot for Atlanta GM position

Updated Jan. 6, 2021 7:34 p.m. ET

Associated Press

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) — The Atlanta Falcons conducted a virtual interview for general manager Wednesday with New Orleans Saints executive Terry Fontenot.

The Falcons are seeking a replacement for longtime GM Thomas Dimitroff,

Fontenot is the Saints' vice president and assistant general manager in charge of pro personnel. He has been with Atlanta's NFC South rival for 16 seasons.

Meanwhile, Tampa Bay defensive coordinator Todd Bowles says he will interview to be Atlanta’s coach.

“Yeah, that’s true,” Bowles said Wednesday. “Right now, I’m focusing on the playoff game. That will come in time and I will deal with that then.”

The Buccaneers will play at Washington in a NFC wild-card game on Saturday night.

Bowles was 26-40 as the New York Jets coach from 2015-18 and was 2-1 as Miami’s interim coach in 2011.

The Falcons held virtual interviews with Kansas City offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy and San Francisco defensive coordinator Robert Saleh in their coach search on Monday. Atlanta interim coach Raheem Morris interviewed on Friday.

Fontenot was the fifth candidate to interview for the GM job.

The Falcons previously met with former Houston Texans GM Rick Smith, Atlanta director of college scouting Anthony Robinson, and two other directors of college scouting, Brad Holmes of the Los Angeles Rams and Morocco Brown of the Indianapolis Colts.

Team owner Arthur Blank has said he will not place limitations on what moves a new general manager and coach can make. He said that includes decisions on quarterback Matt Ryan and wide receiver Julio Jones.

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AP Sports Writer Fred Goodall in Tampa, Florida, contributed to this report.

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