Falcons want Fontenot, the team's first Black GM, to work collaboratively with coach Arthur SmithSAINTS
The Falcons have officially hired Saints VP & Assistant GM of Pro Personnel Terry Fontenot as the team's next GM, according to D. Orlando Ledbetter of the ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION. Fontenot is the Falcons' "first Black GM." Under NFL rules adopted in November, the Saints are "in line to receive compensatory third-round draft picks in 2021 and 2022 for the Falcons hiring Fontenot." The picks are "awarded by the league and not coming from the Falcons." They are "bonuses to the team for developing minority candidates to become 'primary football executives.'" The Falcons want Fontenot and new head coach Arthur Smith to "work in a collaborative environment and possess a shared vision to land the franchise its first NFL championship" (ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, 1/19).
BACK TOGETHER: NFL Network's Ian Rapoport cites sources as saying that the Washington Football Team is "finalizing a deal" with former Panthers GM Marty Hurney to "be its new GM." WFT "should announce the move later today" (TWITTER.com, 1/19). ESPN.com's John Keim notes Washington "wanted to add a person to its front office to take some of the administrative burden" off coach Ron Rivera. Hurney spent parts of five seasons with Rivera in Carolina, having been fired twice. Being hired by Washington would be a return for Hurney, who spent four years covering the team for The Washington Times before moving into the team's PR department (ESPN.com, 1/19).
