Atlanta Falcons legend Matt Ryan has announced his retirement from the NFL after 15 seasons. The quarterback, known as “Matty Ice” for his calm demeanor, spent all but one season of his career in Atlanta. Ryan, who turns 39 next month, threw for 62,792 yards and 381 touchdowns in his career, quickly becoming the face of the Falcons during the most successful era in franchise history. He ranks seventh in NFL history for passing yards, ninth in career TD passes, and won the league MVP award in 2016 when he guided the Falcons to only their second Super Bowl appearance in franchise history. Ryan brought much-needed professionalism to the locker room to go along with stellar play on the field, leading the Falcons to a surprising playoff berth in 2008 coming off an awful 4-12 season. Ryan’s rookie campaign turned out to be the first of five straight winning seasons for a team that had never put together even back-to-back records above .500 over the first 42 years of its existence. When the Falcons went into rebuilding mode after the 2021 season, the aging QB and his mammoth contract were dealt to the Colts for a mere third-round draft pick. Ryan posted a 4-7-1 record as the starter, had a career-low 14 touchdown passes, and was benched for the first time in his pro career. At the end of the season, he was quietly let go by the Colts. Ryan would lead Atlanta to one more playoff appearance in 2017. But Ryan closed his career with five straight losing campaigns. Ryan was a four-time Pro Bowl selectee and remarkably durable over his career, missing only three games during his Atlanta tenure because of injuries. Asked if he thought his credentials were Hall of Fame-worthy, Ryan paused briefly but didn’t waver from making his pitch. “I think my body of work is strong. I think I did a lot of things the right way,” he said. “But ultimately, it’s not my call. “I will say this: I’m really proud of the things that I accomplished, that we accomplished as a group. If you would’ve told me at 15 this was the way it was going to shake out, I would’ve signed up for it every time.”
Ryan’s retirement marks the end of an era for the Falcons, who are now looking to rebuild their team around a new quarterback.
Matt Ryan Retires After 15-Year NFL Career, Leaves Legacy as Falcons Legend
