Tom Braatz

Thomas Myron Braatz (May 12, 1933 – October 30, 2018) was a former

He accepted a football scholarship from Marquette University, where he played as a two-way End. He was named the team's co-captain as a senior.^[1]

NFL Player Career

Washington Redskins (first stint)

Braatz was

On October 16, 1958, he signed with the Los Angeles Rams to play as a defensive end. After playing in one game, he was released to make room for halfback Clendon Thomas on October 20, 1958.

Green Bay Packers

In 1959, he was signed by the Green Bay Packers. He was released on September 22.

Washington Redskins (second stint)

In

After retiring as a player, he joined the expansion Atlanta Falcons as a part-time area scout in 1965. In 1968, he was promoted to director of player personnel. He became general manager of the Falcons in 1983, a promotion merited by his success as director of player personnel for the club. In what was his 19th year with the Falcons, Braatz was recognized as one of professional football's finest talent scouts, a fact substantiated by the fact that nine different Falcons have gone to the Pro Bowl from 1980 to 1983. Braatz’ input and direction of acquisitions enabled the Falcons to become not only competitive but also a viable contender for yearly playoff appearances, a feat accomplished three times since 1978. In addition to heading the scouting department, Braatz was also actively involved in player contract negotiations and personnel moves. Braatz' success, however, along with the Falcons, had not been sudden, working his way up through the organization over nearly 20 years and ultimately spending 22 years with the club. “I think Tom has proven over the years that he is a knowledgeable football man, and has earned the respect of people throughout the NFL,” said Falcon owner Rankin Smith upon promoting Braatz. Braatz was featured in a front-page article in April 1982 in the Wall Street Journal. During his time with the Falcons, the team drafted or acquired 24 players who played in 68 Pro Bowls, including Tommy Nobis, Jim Mitchell, Claude Humphrey, Jeff Van Note, William Andrews, Gerald Riggs, Steve Bartkowski, Junior Miller, Mike Kenn, Bill Fralic, R.C. Thielemann and Bobby Butler. The group also includes some lesser known Pro Bowlers such as George Kunz, John James, Scott Case and Jim “Cannonball” Butler. Buddy Curry and Al Richardson were named AP co-rookies of the year from the 1980 draft.

On January 31, 1987, he was hired by the

Braatz was named the Dolphins' director of college scouting on June 12, 1992. During his tenure, he was responsible for the scouting of college players and Miami's preparation for the NFL draft, and in that role, he worked closely with Dolphins Head Coach's Don Shula, Jimmy Johnson and Dave Wannstedt and the rest of the team's football staff. During his time with the club, he played a key role in the selection of a number of players who made an immediate impact as rookies, including the 1994 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, defensive lineman Tim Bowens, wide receivers O.J. McDuffie and Chris Chambers, linebackers Zach Thomas and Derrick Rodgers, defensive linemen Daryl Gardener, Jason Taylor, Kenny Mixon and Lorenzo Bromell, and cornerbacks Sam Madison and Patrick Surtain. He retired from the Dolphins in May, 2003.[3]^[4]

In 39 seasons as an