The Atlanta Falcons interviewed Detroit Lions COO Mike Disner for their newly created president of football position. But the Falcons ultimately elected to hire one of their own.
Atlanta announced Saturday morning it has hired former quarterback Matt Ryan as its new president of football. With the announcement, Disner obviously didn’t land the position.
“Throughout his remarkable 14-year career in Atlanta, Matt’s leadership, attention to detail, knowledge of the game and unrelenting drive to win made him the most successful player in our franchise’s history,” said Falcons owner and chairman Arthur Blank. “I am confident those same qualities will be a tremendous benefit to our organization as he steps into this new role.”
Ryan will oversee all aspects of the football team with the Falcons. The ex-quarterback will report directly to Blank according to Atlantafalcons.com.
Both the team’s new general manager and head coach will report to Ryan.
Disner was one of a few different NFL executives to interview for the opening. Blank explained in a letter to fans after the regular season finale that he wanted to hire a new president.
This past week, the Falcons fired head coach Raheem Morris and general manager Terry Fontenot. Blank also reassigned Falcons CEO Rich McKay to a different part of his organization.
Disner has served as the Lions chief operating officer since 2022.
Falcons Don’t Choose Mike Disner for New Executive Role
It’s not overly shocking the Falcons hired Ryan as president of football. Atlanta appeared to be looking more for a “football guy” than McKay. If nothing else, bringing back Ryan to the organization should earn a lot of good will in the Falcons fan base.
For the Lions, Atlanta’s hire is ultimately a good thing. Disner could still pursue other opportunities this offseason, but he’s now much more likely to return to Detroit in 2026.
Detroit Sports Nation’s Don Drysdale called the Falcons hiring Ryan a “sigh of relief.”
“With Ryan now locked into a powerful leadership role in Atlanta, any scenario in which he could have lured Disner into a top-tier front office role elsewhere is off the table, at least for now,” wrote Drysdale.
“For the Lions, that’s welcome news.
“Detroit’s front office continuity has been a major pillar of its rise into a Super Bowl contender. Brad Holmes, Dan Campbell, and their trusted inner circle, including Disner, have built one of the league’s most stable and aggressive roster-building operations. Losing a top executive to a newly empowered former MVP with full control in another market would have been a legitimate threat.”
Disner’s NFL Resume
The Lions COO just completed his fourth season in his role. But the 2025 campaign was his 19th in the NFL overall.
Disner has been with the Lions in some capacity since 2019.
He began his career with the New England Patriots as an intern in 2005. Disner rose to a scouting assistant role by 2007, which is the year the Patriots posted an undefeated regular season record.
From 2013-18, he spent six seasons with the Arizona Cardinals as the organization’s director for football administration.
For the Lions today, Disner “assumes responsibilities across the football and business management teams.”
Seen as a rising star around the league, it might only be a matter of time until Disner departs for a higher league position. But the Lions will benefit for as long as they can keep Disner in their organization.
Falcons Make Call on Lions Executive While Bringing Back Matt Ryan