Quarterback Matt Ryan, celebrated for his exceptional career with the Atlanta Falcons yet notably missing a Super Bowl win, officially announced his retirement from professional football on Monday.
Ryan’s last NFL appearance was a less-than-memorable season with the Indianapolis Colts in 2022, and he hadn’t played on an NFL field since then. During the last season, Ryan served as a CBS analyst and received a warm welcome when he returned to call a game in Atlanta.
In a heartfelt video shared on his social media, Ryan expressed his lifelong passion for sports. “Ever since I can remember, all I ever wanted to do was play professional sports,” he said. “The Atlanta Falcons gave me that chance.”
Ryan, who will turn 39 next month, retires with 62,792 passing yards and 381 touchdowns, credentials that place him among the best in NFL history. He ranks seventh in all-time passing yards and ninth in career touchdowns. His pinnacle achievement came in 2016 when he was named the league’s MVP.
“Football is the ultimate team sport,” Ryan reflected. “I was lucky to be surrounded by so many great teammates and coaches.”
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Despite his successes, a championship title eluded him. He led the Falcons to their second-ever Super Bowl appearance at the end of the 2016 season, where they infamously lost a 28-3 lead to Tom Brady and the New England Patriots in a game that ended in a 34-28 overtime defeat, marking one of the most dramatic collapses in Super Bowl history.
Following the Super Bowl loss, the Falcons experienced a decline, culminating in six consecutive losing seasons. Ryan himself ended his stint with the Falcons on a similar note, with five losing seasons before being traded to the Colts for a third-round draft pick as Atlanta began a rebuilding phase.
His time with the Colts was challenging, culminating in a 4-7-1 record as a starter, career-low statistics, and eventually being benched and released at the end of the season.
Though he joined CBS and remained open to an NFL return, no opportunities came, leading Ryan to retire officially. A press conference was scheduled at the Falcons’ training facility in Flowery Branch to formally announce his retirement.
Ryan’s career began under challenging circumstances after being drafted third overall in 2008 from Boston College, following the turmoil of Michael Vick’s legal issues and coach Bobby Petrino’s abrupt resignation. Ryan quickly became a stabilizing force for the franchise, leading them to five consecutive winning seasons for the first time in their history, three division titles, and six playoff appearances, including a trip to the NFC championship game in 2012.
Over his career, Ryan was a four-time Pro Bowl selection, boasted ten consecutive seasons with over 4,000 passing yards, and was known for his durability, missing only three games due to injury with the Falcons. He completed his career with a 124-109-1 record as a starter, including a 120-102 mark with the Falcons, marking him as one of the most accomplished quarterbacks in the franchise’s history.
