Matt Ryan came to Patrick Mahomes’ defense after the Kansas City Chiefs star faced some playful teasing from fans about his self-proclaimed “dad bod” earlier this week.
The former Atlanta Falcons quarterback, who retired from the NFL last month, supported Mahomes’ assertion that he has “a great body” for a quarterback.
“I had a dad bod for most of my career, so I agree with Patrick on that,” Ryan told Mail Sport at the Sports Business Awards in New York City on Wednesday. He emphasized Mahomes’ on-field success, saying, “The proof is in the performance.” Ryan highlighted Mahomes’ three Super Bowl wins with Kansas City, adding, “His performance has been better than anybody’s the last five or six years, so I think he’s doing OK.”
Mahomes, who is known for his love of Chick-Fil-A and Chipotle, returned to the field for Organized Team Activities (OTAs) on Tuesday after winning his third Super Bowl ring in February.
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However, Mahomes defended his physique in a recent interview with TIME magazine.
“I have a great body for a quarterback,” he said. “You’ve got to have some padding in there to take the hits that we take.”
Ryan, embracing his own “dad bod” since retiring from the NFL, reflected on his career in a video posted to his social media accounts in April.
“Ever since I can remember, all I ever wanted to do was play professional sports,” he said. “The Atlanta Falcons gave me that chance.”
Over his 15-year career, mostly with the Falcons, Ryan threw for 62,792 yards and 381 touchdowns, making him the face of the franchise during its most successful era.
He won the NFL MVP award in 2016.
After a disappointing season with the Indianapolis Colts in 2022, Ryan transitioned to a role as an analyst for CBS.
He received a warm reception when he called a game in Atlanta last season.
