The Atlanta Falcons have brought a familiar face back home, hiring franchise icon Matt Ryan as president of football operations Saturday morning.
Ryan, 40, will step into this newly created position with immediate responsibility for finding the team’s next head coach and general manager. He’ll have direct oversight of both roles and will report straight to longtime owner Arthur Blank.
The former quarterback has been working as an NFL analyst for CBS Sports since retiring from playing – a job he’s now leaving behind to rejoin the organization where he spent 14 seasons. Though Ryan lacks traditional front office experience, Blank emphasized his leadership qualities during Thursday’s press conference.
“Arthur gave me the chance of a lifetime almost 20 years ago, and he’s done it again today,” Ryan said in a statement. “While I appreciate the time I had with the Colts and with CBS, I’ve always been a Falcon. It feels great to be home.”
Blank specifically highlighted Ryan’s high “EQ and IQ” and his ability to guide teams to success across multiple coaching regimes – qualities the owner clearly values in this executive role.
The franchise has been stuck in neutral since 2017.
That playoff appearance seven years ago – with Ryan under center – marks the last time Atlanta posted a winning record. Following a disappointing 8-9 finish this season, the Falcons cleaned house Sunday night by firing both head coach Raheem Morris (after two seasons) and GM Terry Fontenot (after five years).
Along with announcing Ryan’s hiring, the Falcons have promoted Greg Beadles to president and CEO. Beadles will collaborate with Ryan to ensure alignment between the organization’s business operations and football goals.
Ryan wasn’t the only candidate considered for the president of football position. The Falcons also interviewed Chicago Bears assistant GM Ian Cunningham, Detroit Lions COO Mike Disner, San Francisco 49ers director of scouting Josh Williams, and Carolina Panthers executive VP Brandt Tillis.
Sources told ESPN that Cunningham – who currently works under Bears GM Ryan Poles (a former Boston College teammate of Ryan’s) – will be a leading candidate for the general manager position. The other interviewed executives are also expected to be in the GM mix.
“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,” Blank said in a statement. “I am confident those same qualities will be a tremendous benefit to our organization as he steps into this new role.”
Ryan’s credentials speak for themselves. The four-time Pro Bowler led Atlanta to five playoff appearances including a Super Bowl, while setting virtually every major passing record in franchise history. His 59,745 passing yards and 367 touchdown passes with the Falcons may make him a future Hall of Famer – and now he’ll try to build a team worthy of his on-field legacy.