The Atlanta Falcons have hired Terry Fontenot as their general manager, pairing him with recently-hired coach Arthur Smith to try to return the franchise to the playoffs.
The 40-year-old Fontenot becomes the Falcons first Black general manager. Under the NFL's new hiring guidelines encouraging minority hiring, the Saints will receive two third-round draft picks.
Fontenot has spent the past 18 years with the New Orleans Saints in a variety of capacities, most recently as the vice president/assistant general manager of pro personnel. He began his career as a marketing intern before moving into the scouting department and has held his last post for the past year.