Matt Ryan Returns Home as Falcons Name Franchise Icon President of Football

The Atlanta Falcons are turning the page — and bringing home one of the most important figures in franchise history to help write the next chapter.

Atlanta Falcons Owner and Chairman Arthur M. Blank announced Saturday morning that former NFL MVP and longtime Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan has been named the team’s President of Football. Ryan assumes the role immediately and will oversee all football operations for the organization.

Ryan will report directly to Blank while working closely with Falcons President and CEO Greg Beadles to ensure alignment between the football and business sides of the organization. With the Falcons currently searching for a new head coach and general manager, both hires will report to Ryan.

“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. “I am confident those same qualities will be a tremendous benefit to our organization as he steps into this new role.”

For Falcons fans, this move feels personal — and intentional. Ryan isn’t just another executive hire. He’s a foundational piece of the franchise’s identity.

Ryan accepted the role early Saturday morning and will be immediately involved in shaping the future of the team, beginning with the search for the organization’s next head coach and general manager.

After a 15-year NFL playing career, Ryan spent the past three seasons as a CBS Sports analyst, studying the league from both the booth and the studio. He served as a game analyst in 2023 before transitioning to the studio on THE NFL TODAY, alongside James Brown, Bill Cowher and Nate Burleson. That experience, combined with nearly two decades inside NFL locker rooms, has helped shape his understanding of how sustainable, winning organizations are built.

“Arthur gave me the chance of a lifetime almost twenty years ago, and he’s done it again today,” Ryan said. “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.”

Ryan’s résumé on the field speaks for itself. During his 14 seasons in Atlanta, he led the Falcons to five postseason appearances, two NFC Championship Games and one Super Bowl berth. He holds nearly every major passing record in franchise history, including career passing yards (59,735), passing touchdowns (367), completions (5,242) and passer rating (94.6). From 2011 to 2020, Ryan recorded 10 consecutive 4,000-yard seasons and finished his Falcons career with the eighth-most passing yards in NFL history.

His peak came in 2016, when Ryan earned first-team All-Pro honors, became the first NFL MVP in franchise history and led Atlanta to its second NFC title.

Now, Ryan steps into a new role — one he acknowledges comes with a learning curve, but not unfamiliar responsibility.

“I know first-hand what a great foundation this organization has,” Ryan said. “Setting clear expectations, reinvigorating our approach with strategic thinking, and being disciplined about finding near-term wins to set us up for long-term success — these are all priorities I will bring to this role.”

Ryan’s impact has always extended beyond football. He was named the Falcons’ Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year nominee in 2016 and has long been active in the Atlanta community. Alongside his wife, Sarah, Ryan co-founded ATL: Advance The Lives, an organization focused on removing systemic barriers facing Black youth. The initiative raised $1.3 million through its initial campaign and continues its work throughout the metro Atlanta area.

Ryan, Sarah and their three sons reside in metro Atlanta — a reminder that this move isn’t just professional. It’s personal.

“This is not a new table,” Ryan said. “It’s just a new seat.”

For a franchise searching for stability, leadership and direction, the Falcons are betting that the player who defined an era can now help define the future.