Matt Ryan, who played 14 seasons as the Atlanta Falcons’ starting quarterback after being drafted third overall in 2008, is now serving as the team’s president of football. During his career, Ryan led the team to six playoff appearances and a Super Bowl in 2016. He was inducted into the Falcons’ Ring of Honor following his retirement.
Michael Penix Jr., selected eighth overall by the Falcons in the 2024 NFL Draft, is expected to become a franchise quarterback for Atlanta. Team owner Arthur Blank recently reiterated this expectation. The addition of Ryan in a leadership role is seen as beneficial for Penix’s development.
“I’m not hired to come in and be the quarterback coach, but I love Mike and have gotten to know him through the last couple of years here in Atlanta,” Ryan said. “So, anything he needs from me, I’m a part of this organization and happy to help in any way that I can.”
Ryan has acted as a mentor for Penix since last year when then-head coach Raheem Morris named Penix as Atlanta’s starting quarterback for 2025. Penix began his rookie season behind veteran Kirk Cousins, who had signed with the Falcons during free agency. However, Cousins was benched late in the season due to performance issues, and Penix started the final three games of 2024.
In those starts, Penix won one game and lost two while completing 58% of his passes with three touchdowns and three interceptions. Last season, he posted a record of three wins and six losses before suffering a knee injury during an overtime loss against Carolina in Week 11. He underwent surgery for a partially torn ACL.
Blank provided an update on Penix’s recovery: “The surgeon felt 1,000% secure in the medical procedure they went through, and they really felt his knee was going to be even better than it was before,” Blank said. “He’s on a successful rehab program. He’s back in Atlanta. He’s committed mentally. Physically, he feels good.”
Before his injury last season, Penix completed just over 60% of his passes for an average of 220 yards per game with nine touchdowns against three interceptions.
“The next thing in front of Mike is the rehab process, and he’s already at it,” Ryan said. “I was in here (Monday) morning … and he was in there getting after his rehab. So, he’s in a good mental space right there and is doing exactly what he should be doing right now.”
The NFL’s new league year will begin on March 11; teams like Atlanta that have hired new head coaches may start offseason workout programs on April 6 ahead of training camps set for mid-July.
No official timeline has been shared regarding when Penix might return to play.
“It’s working together to figure out the right plan for Mike and his rehab,” Ryan said. “And that’s going to be our training rooms’ job and our doctors’ jobs and sports science and in the weight room. Everybody’s responsibility to make sure that is going as planned. And that’s really as simple as it gets.”
The Atlanta Falcons are based in Atlanta, Georgia according to their official website. They compete in the NFC South division according to their official website after beginning play as an expansion team in 1965 according to their official website. The franchise reached its only two Super Bowls so far during the 1998 and 2016 seasons according to their official website.
