The Falcons have added another former player to their front office. Todd McClure, Atlanta’s starting center from 2000 to 2012, has rejoined his longtime team as their coordinator of player development/senior personnel assistant, per Bleacher Report’s James Palmer.
McClure, 49, will also hold the title of senior personnel assistant in a reorganized front office now headed by president of football Matt Ryan. The two played together from 2008 to 2012, the final five year’s of McClure’s career and the beginning of Ryan’s. The move represents a continued effort by the Falcons to reset their franchise with eight seasons (and three head coaches) since their last playoff appearance.
Here is a description of McClure’s duties (via team writers Tori McElhaney and Will McFadden): “McClure will support the club’s player development program by coordinating cross-functional initiatives and assisting football leadership with player-focused and strategic projects.”
That is an appropriately ambiguous job description for a former NFL player with no documented coaching or executive roles since retiring more than a decade ago. McClure’s specific role will likely be solidified over the coming months as he finds a new fit within a familiar organization.
The Falcons also made several hires in their scouting department, including new national scout Justin Hickman. A former NFL and CFL defensive lineman, Hickman got his scouting start with the Toronto Argonauts in 2017. He also spent time with the XFL’s Tampa Bay Vipers before taking an area scout job with the Patriots in 2021, a role he held until moving to Atlanta.
Max Blank, son of owner Arthur Blank, has returned to Atlanta as a scouting assistant after two years in the NFL league offices. Accusations of nepotism are likely well-founded in this case, but the younger Blank does have three scouting internships under his belt – two with the Falcons and one with the Rams – though familial connections no doubt played a role in securing those opportunities, too.
Joining the Falcons as an area scout is Keith Earle, who has multiple connections with general manager Ian Cunningham. The two worked together for the last four years in Chicago, where Cunningham served as assistant GM and Earle held several roles, including Midlands area scout for the last two years. Earle also served as an intern in Cunningham’s player personnel department in Philadelphia in 2021.
Kevin Melore will also be serving as an area scout moving forward after spending the past year as a scouting assistant. He previously served in personnel roles at the University of Texas, focusing on scouting and recruiting quarterbacks, cornerbacks, and safeties.
Completing the Falcons’ front office moves is Daniel Clements, who previously worked in the personnel departments at Texas and Texas A&M and is coming aboard as Atlanta’s new BLESTO scout.