South Atlanta News

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — For the first time in 15 years, the Atlanta Falcons will induct two members into the Ring of Honor in the same season.

The Falcons announced Tuesday that Owner and Chairman Arthur M. Blank and former quarterback Matt Ryan have been chosen to join the organization's immortal ranks. There hasn't been a two-person class since 2008 when Mike Kenn and Claude Humphrey were inducted. The last nomination was in 2022.

Currently, there are 12 members in the Falcons’ Ring of Honor, with offensive lineman Todd McClure earning the most recent honor. Blank and Ryan will bring the count to 14 once officially inducted.

"On behalf of the Atlanta Falcons, it is a privilege to recognize two of our franchise icons as they enter our Ring of Honor," Team President Greg Beadles said.

The Falcons will hold induction ceremonies for Blank and Ryan during separate games at Mercedes-Benz Stadium this season. Blank will be honored on Sept. 22 during the Week 3 matchup with the Kansas City Chiefs. Ryan will receive his flowers on Oct. 3 during the Week 5 contest with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Blank acquired the Falcons in 2002 and ushered in an era of unprecedented success. Prior to Blank's arrival, the Falcons had never achieved back-to-back winning seasons, a feat they've achieved five times since. Under his leadership, the team has compiled a 178-176-1 regular-season record with eight playoff showings, including appearances in two NFC Championship games and one Super Bowl.

"Since Arthur purchased the team in 2002, results on and off the field have elevated," Beadles said, "and his unwavering dedication to the fans and city of Atlanta is worthy of this recognition and so much more."

Ever since he co-founded The Home Depot, Blank has been an entrepreneur and philanthropist. He carried over his successful customer-first business model into the fan realm, always prioritizing those who support his entities. That has always been a non-negotiable for Blank, and it has paid off.

Thanks to his various works, Blank has received numerous national honors. "Forbes" named him one of the World’s Greatest Living Business Minds in 2017 and one of America’s Top 50 Givers in 2018. Blank was also "Sports Business Journal's" 2018 Sports Executive of the Year. Then, as recently as this past May, Blank earned "Sports Business Journal's" Lifetime Achievement Award.

Truly, the list goes on.

The Blank Family of Businesses includes three major branches: The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation stands alone; AMB Sports and Entertainment features entities such as the Falcons, Atlanta United FC, Mercedes-Benz Stadium; PGA TOUR Superstore; AMB West comprises Mountain Sky Guest Ranch, West Creek Ranch; Paradise Valley Ranch; Dome Mountain Property.

While Blank's impact was made in a coat and tie, Ryan’s was made in jersey No. 2.

The Falcons picked Ryan with their No. 3 overall pick in the 2008 NFL Draft—a decision that changed their course for fourteen years.

Ryan began his career as a starter immediately—rather rare at that time—and led them to an 11-5 record plus a playoff appearance as a rookie by completing passes at a rate of sixty-one percent totaling over thirty-four hundred yards yielding sixteen touchdowns which led him being voted AP Offensive Rookie-of-the-Year becoming only third quarterback ever achieving such recognition back then..

Successes & accolades continued: leading another five postseason bids—including Super Bowl berth (2016) completing seventy percent nearly fifty-five hundred yards thirty-eight touchdowns culminating MVP/Offensive Player-of-the-Year awards additionally named AP first-team All-Pro member..

Twenty-Twenty-One saw last Atlanta season (seven-ten record) sixty-seven percent completions nearly four thousand yards twenty touchdowns.. April Twenty-second Twenty-Twenty-Four retired Falcon signing single-day contract.. Entire career overview: started two-hundred-twenty-two possible two-hundred-twenty-five regular-season games achieving hundred-twenty wins versus hundred-two losses completed sixty-five point five percent passes yielding nearly sixty-thousand yards tallying three-hundred-sixty-seven touchdowns ending career franchise history’s most accomplished quarterback..

“Matt's character/talent both fields sets apart greatest players,” Beadles stated “we believe future Pro Football Hall Fame induction.”

“We look forward celebrating Arthur/Matt fall honoring immeasurable franchise impact.”

Blank eighty-one native Queens New York; Ryan thirty-nine hails Exton Pennsylvania along McClure other inductees William Andrews Steve Bartkowski Tommy Nobis Jessie Tuggle Jeff Van Note Mike Kenn Claude Humphrey Deion Sanders Gerald Riggs Warrick Dunn Roddy White

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