FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Matt Ryan has returned to the Atlanta Falcons, this time as president of football. Known for his professionalism throughout his career as a player and analyst, Ryan brings the same approach to his new executive role.
During his introductory press conference on Tuesday morning, Ryan addressed the passion that has defined his time with the Falcons. “My mission since I was drafted has never changed,” Ryan said directly to Falcons fans. “It is to help this organization do everything it can to be champions and to win championships. There is a sense of unfinished business. We were close at times. We had some success here and there, but I truly believe we are going to get there. I have full faith in the people in this building, and the folks who are going to be coming into this building are going to help us get there.”
Ryan reflected on how much he missed being part of a team after retiring from playing. “It is hard to replicate the wins and losses,” Ryan said, “the work that goes into that and the result, a result every Sunday.” He added that conversations with others who transitioned from player to executive highlighted what he missed most: “There’s this sense that you miss being around the team, the locker room,” Ryan said. “But you also miss the competitiveness — the result, the nature of being prepared. Doing everything you can and laying it all on the line. There’s a level of missing that.”
Ryan noted that while returning as an executive cannot fully replace playing, it offers a similar sense of involvement: “It’s different than playing, that’s what they say,” Ryan said, “but it does get your juices flowing.”
He emphasized his commitment to helping restore success for the organization: “My responsibilities and my impact are different from what they were as a player,” Ryan said, “but there’s nothing better than being part of it — being in the locker room after a win. That feeling of knowing it took everybody in this building.”
Falcons owner Arthur Blank outlined clear expectations for Ryan’s new position: “This role and this responsibility are primarily involved with one thing: winning football games,” Blank said. “We have to win football games. That’s the role. That’s Matt’s major job. … It’s about winning games. And that is our focus. That’s what we’re talking about today, and that’s what it has to be.”
Ryan concluded by reaffirming his dedication: “My role is different. My responsibilities are different,” Ryan said. “But we are here to win.”
The Atlanta Falcons compete in the NFL’s NFC South division according to their official website. The team began play as an expansion franchise in 1965 and is based in Atlanta. The Falcons have advanced twice to the Super Bowl—once in 1998 and again in 2016 as noted by their official site.
