Former Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan has officially retired from the NFL almost 16 years after he was drafted. The Falcons and Ryan announced that he is officially retiring as a Falcon in a tribute video posted by the Falcons on Monday.
Ryan retires after playing 13 seasons for the Falcons and one unmemorable year with the Indianapolis Colts. The No. 3 overall pick in the 2008 NFL Draft out of Boston College, “Matty Ice” immediately turned the Falcons into contenders as he led them to the playoffs as a rookie while winning the Offensive Rookie of the Year award.
Through the first few years of his career, Ryan would become known for his inability to win a playoff game. Ryan and the Falcons made first-round exits in each of his first three playoff appearances. He finally got the ‘monkey off his back’ in 2012, when Ryan led the Falcons to a dramatic 30-28 win over the Seattle Seahawks in the divisional round of the playoffs. He was on the verge of heading to the Super Bowl for the first time, but the Falcons blew a 17-point lead to the San Francisco 49ers and fell short.
Todd Kirkland/Getty Images
Ryan and the Falcons would miss the playoffs the next three seasons. He would then reach new heights of his career in 2016 behind then-Falcons offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan. In his second season with Shanahan, Ryan had the best year of his career. He set career-highs by completing 69.9 percent of his passes for 4,944 yards and 38 touchdowns with seven interceptions. He led the NFL in yards per attempt (9.3) and passer rating (117.1) as he made first-team All-Pro for the first time. He won the NFL MVP and Offensive Player of the Year Award and led the Falcons to the Super Bowl.
That Super Bowl was the most infamous moment of Ryan’s career, as the Falcons got out to a 28-3 lead over the New England Patriots before they lost the game in one of the most improbable comebacks in NFL history. Ryan would lead the Falcons back to the playoffs the following year, his last career postseason trip.
After staying with the Falcons through 2021, he was traded to the Colts, where he played his final season. He did not play in 2023 but did officially hang up his cleats until his announcement on April 22. Ryan retired with 62,792 career passing yards and 381 career passing touchdowns. He is seventh on the all-time NFL passing yards leaderboard and ninth all-time in passing touchdowns. He’s also the Falcons’ franchise leader in most passing categories, including passing yards and touchdowns.
He retires a Falcons legend, and will more than likely get inducted into the Falcons Ring of Honor.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.