Inside the Front Office: Understanding the Atlanta Falcons General Manager Role

If you follow the Atlanta Falcons, you’ve probably heard a lot about the general manager (GM)—especially around the draft, free agency, or big trades. For fans living in or visiting Atlanta, Georgia, understanding what the Falcons’ GM actually does can give you a deeper appreciation for what happens behind the scenes at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

This guide breaks down what the Atlanta Falcons general manager is responsible for, how the role connects to life in Atlanta, and how local fans experience GM decisions all year long.

Who Is the Atlanta Falcons General Manager?

The Atlanta Falcons general manager is the top executive in charge of building the team’s roster and shaping its long-term direction. While head coaches handle game plans and day-to-day practices, the GM focuses on:

• Player acquisition (draft, free agency, trades)
• Contracts and salary cap management
• Long-term roster strategy
• Scouting and player evaluation
• Working closely with the head coach and ownership

The GM operates out of the Falcons’ headquarters and training facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, while team business and game-day operations center around Mercedes-Benz Stadium in downtown Atlanta.

Where the Falcons’ GM Fits in the Organization

To understand the GM’s role, it helps to see where it sits within the Falcons’ structure.

Key relationships:

• Owner: The GM reports up to the team’s ownership (for the Falcons, that’s the group led by Arthur Blank), aligning roster decisions with the organization’s vision.
• Head Coach: The GM and head coach work closely to match players to the coach’s system and style.
• Scouting Department: The GM oversees college and pro scouts who evaluate talent across the country.
• Football Operations & Cap Staff: These staff members help manage contracts, compliance with NFL rules, and daily logistics.

For Atlanta fans, this means the GM is often the central decision-maker you hear about when big news breaks—whether that’s a first-round draft pick, a blockbuster trade, or a major contract extension.

What the Atlanta Falcons General Manager Actually Does

1. Building the Roster

The GM’s primary job is to assemble a competitive 53-man roster plus a practice squad.

This includes:

• NFL Draft decisions
• Signing free agents
• Re-signing key current players
• Waiving or releasing players
• Claiming players off waivers

For Atlanta, these decisions directly affect who you see on the field at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sundays and who appears at public events, training camp, and community outreach programs across the metro area.

2. Managing the Salary Cap

Every NFL team has to follow a league-wide salary cap. The GM is responsible for:

• Structuring contracts (length, guarantees, bonuses)
• Balancing stars, role players, and depth
• Planning for future years, not just the current season

For fans in Atlanta, this can explain why the Falcons may let a popular veteran walk, restructure a contract, or make a surprise cut. Many of these moves are driven by cap strategy as much as on-field performance.

3. Overseeing Scouting and the Draft

The Atlanta Falcons GM coordinates a scouting operation that focuses on:

• College scouting: Evaluating players at major programs (including local powerhouses like University of Georgia and Georgia Tech) and small schools.
• Pro scouting: Assessing players on other NFL teams and practice squads.

Leading up to the draft, the GM organizes draft boards, interviews, and evaluations. For Atlanta-area fans, you see the results of this process when:

• The team holds draft events in the city
• New rookies are introduced at the stadium or in media appearances
• Draft picks appear in community events around Atlanta

4. Working with the Head Coach on Scheme Fit

The GM doesn’t just chase talent; they look for players who fit the coach’s system.

In practice, that means:

• Matching offensive and defensive needs to specific skill sets
• Acquiring players who fit the team’s identity (speed, toughness, versatility, etc.)
• Supporting the coach with depth at key positions

This is why, when the Falcons hire a new head coach, you often see a series of roster moves that reflect a new direction on both sides of the ball.

How the GM’s Decisions Show Up in Atlanta

On Game Day at Mercedes-Benz Stadium

Every time you walk into Mercedes-Benz Stadium (1 AMB Drive NW, Atlanta, GA 30313) for a Falcons game, you’re watching the GM’s work in real time:

• Which quarterback is starting
• Who lines up at wide receiver, cornerback, or along the offensive line
• How much depth the team has when injuries hit

The GM’s roster decisions can influence:

• The style of play (run-heavy, pass-heavy, aggressive defense, etc.)
• The overall competitiveness of the team
• The energy in the building when the team is winning or in a rebuild

Around the Metro Atlanta Community

The GM’s choices also affect how the team connects with Atlanta communities:

• New players participating in charity events and school visits
• Player appearances at local businesses or festivals
• Falcons-branded community programs in neighborhoods across the metro area

Local fans get to know players the GM brought in, whether through training camp at Flowery Branch, autograph sessions, or local media.

Training Camp and the GM’s Roster Battles

The Falcons’ training facility—IBM Performance Field at Flowery Branch—is where many GM decisions come into focus each summer.

During training camp and preseason, the GM and coaching staff:

• Evaluate bubble players fighting to make the roster
• Decide which young players to keep, cut, or move to the practice squad
• Test new signings and draft picks in the system

For Atlanta fans who attend open training camp practices:

• The players you see battling for spots are direct results of GM signings and draft picks
• Roster cuts following camp reflect the GM’s final choices going into the season

How Atlanta Fans Typically Follow the GM’s Moves

If you live in or near Atlanta and want to track what the Falcons GM is doing, there are several reliable touchpoints throughout the year.

Key Times of Year to Watch

Where Local Fans Pay Attention

Many Atlanta-area fans keep up with GM decisions by:

• Watching local sports segments on Atlanta TV stations
• Listening to Atlanta sports radio on their commute
• Reading coverage from local outlets that focus specifically on Falcons news
• Attending home games or public events where new players are introduced

While the GM usually works behind the scenes, their name tends to surface heavily in media when:

• A star player is signed or traded
• A high draft pick is made
• A major roster overhaul is underway

Visiting Atlanta and Want to Experience the Falcons’ Team-Building?

If you’re traveling to Atlanta and want to better understand how the GM’s decisions show up in real life, here are a few practical ways to connect with the team:

1. Tour or Attend a Game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium

• Location: 1 AMB Drive NW, Atlanta, GA 30313
• What you’ll see: The product of the GM’s roster building—starters, key backups, and new draft picks all on the field.

Many tours highlight Falcons history, key players, and the stadium’s facilities, giving a sense of how the organization operates at a high level.

2. Check for Open Training Camp Practices

During late July and early August, the Falcons often open selected training camp sessions to the public at their Flowery Branch facility (about an hour northeast of downtown, depending on traffic).

There, you can:

• Watch position battles that influence final GM decisions
• See new draft picks and free agents up close
• Observe how the coaching staff tests different lineups

Details change year to year, so it’s best to look up current-season information close to your visit.

3. Follow Local Coverage While You’re in Town

If you’re in downtown, Midtown, Buckhead, or the surrounding suburbs, local sports coverage will heavily feature:

• Reactions to GM moves
• Analysis of contracts and roster construction
• Discussions about long-term direction of the team

This local lens can give you insight into how Atlanta residents feel about the GM’s performance and decisions at any given time.

What Atlanta Residents Should Understand About the GM’s Impact

For people who live in Atlanta and follow the Falcons regularly, it helps to keep a few core ideas in mind:

• The GM is responsible for the big-picture football decisions, not just individual game calls.
• Draft picks, blockbuster signings, and notable releases are often part of a larger multi-year plan.
• Salary cap realities can drive decisions that might not make emotional sense at first glance.
• Changes in head coach or scheme often bring corresponding roster turnover, guided by GM strategy.

Understanding the GM’s role can make following the Falcons feel more like tracking a long-term story than reacting to week-to-week results.

For anyone in Atlanta—whether you’re a lifelong fan in the suburbs, a student in Midtown, or a visitor catching a game downtown—recognizing what the Atlanta Falcons general manager does gives you a deeper, more informed way to engage with the city’s NFL team.