In a move that has sparked excitement among fans, the Atlanta Falcons have announced the appointment of Matt Ryan as their new President of Football. This decision brings the revered franchise icon back to the team where he spent the majority of his illustrious NFL career, spanning 14 seasons.
This new role has been specially crafted for Ryan, marking a return to the Falcons after a brief stint with the Indianapolis Colts, where he played his final season before retiring. Ryan’s transition from the field to the executive suite is a testament to his enduring bond with the Falcons.
Ryan’s latest professional chapter also means bidding farewell to his position as a studio analyst at CBS, a role he held for three seasons. His departure from broadcasting signifies a full-circle return to the organization that defined much of his career.
In a heartfelt statement, Ryan reflected on his journey: “Arthur Blank gave me the chance of a lifetime almost twenty years ago, and he’s done it again today. While I appreciate the time I had with the Colts and with CBS, I’ve always been a Falcon.”
Expressing his enthusiasm for the future, Ryan added, “It feels great to be home. I could not be more excited, grateful, or humbled by this new opportunity. I began my career with a singular goal: to do right by the Blank family, the Falcons organization, the City of Atlanta, and especially our fans.”
Ryan concluded with a pledge to the team’s supporters: “My commitment to the success of this franchise has not changed. I’m beyond ready to help write a new chapter of excellence.”
Matt Ryan has been hired to a newly made role as President of Football for the Atlanta Falcons
Ryan (R) had the role created for him by team owner Arthur Blank (L) to return to the team
Ryan’s statement continued: ‘I know first-hand what a great foundation this organization has and I’m confident we can build on that and cement a culture of accountability, tenacity, resilience and winning.
‘Setting clear expectations for every single person who walks into Flowery Branch or puts on a Falcons uniform, reinvigorating our approach with strategic thinking, and being disciplined about finding near-term wins to set us up for long-term success – these are all priorities and principles I will bring to this role.’
Blank also released a statement after the announcement: ‘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.
‘I am confident those same qualities will be a tremendous benefit to our organization as he steps into this new role. From his playing days to his time as an analyst at CBS, Matt has always been a student of the game, and he brings an astute understanding of today’s NFL, as well as unique knowledge of our organization and this market.
‘I have full confidence and trust in Matt as we strive to deliver a championship caliber team for Atlanta and Falcons fans everywhere.’
With this new role, Ryan leaves CBS after serving as a color commentator in 2023 and a studio voice for ‘The NFL Today’ in 2024 and 2025.
‘We couldn’t be happier for Matt,’ CBS Sports President & CEO David Berson said in a statement. ‘Becoming the President of Football with the same organization he once guided as an MVP quarterback is an incredible opportunity.
‘Matt is an outstanding teammate, leader, and friend, and we thank him for his time at CBS Sports. We know he’ll bring the same level of excellence to this new role that defined his playing career and his time with us.’
The new role will lead to Ryan departing CBS Sports, where he’d worked since 2023
The new role for Ryan comes amid a time of change for the Falcons.
Earlier this week, the team fired head coach Raheem Morris and general manager Terry Fontenot after the Falcons missed the playoffs for a ninth-straight season – the second-longest playoff drought in franchise history.
Ryan will now have a major role in finding replacements for both those positions.
In his playing days, Ryan was definitively the greatest quarterback in the history of the Falcons.
The third-overall pick of the 2008 NFL Draft out of Boston College, Ryan instantly made his mark on Atlanta.
He won the 2008 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award and only grew from there.
Ryan is the greatest passer in team history, who also oversaw the team’s biggest heartbreak
Ryan’s best season came in 2016, when he won the league’s MVP Award, the Offensive Player of the Year award, was named a first-team All-Pro and led the league in passer rating.
That year, Ryan led the Falcons to their second-ever NFC Championship and on to Super Bowl LI. In that game, Ryan tossed for 284 yards and two touchdowns.
But Atlanta’s vaunted defense collapsed against Tom Brady and the New England Patriots after leading 28-3.
The Patriots scored 25 unanswered points to force overtime, then scored on their first drive to win 34-28 and complete the largest comeback in Super Bowl history.
Currently, Ryan is ninth on the NFL’s all-time list of career passing yards leaders, seventh on the career pass completions list and tenth on the list of career passing touchdown leaders.
