The Atlanta Falcons’ offseason has been an interesting one, as they have major coaching and general manager positions to fill. However, before they could name either of those roles, they decided to hire former MVP quarterback Matt Ryan as their president of football operations. This is the breakdown of how Ryan can turn the team around.
Falcons Welcome Matt Ryan Back to Lead Football Operations
The Atlanta Falcons interviewed Ryan for their president of football operations role, and once news broke about that, the Falcons seemed to be happy with the idea of Ryan returning to a team where he spent so much time. Arthur Blank emphasized the urgency to hire for that role, and they got it done. Ryan was drafted by the Falcons in 2008 and spent 14 seasons as the team’s quarterback, taking them to the Super Bowl in 2016 and also winning an MVP award.
It was reported by the Atlanta Falcons staff that owner Arthur Blank spoke about hiring Ryan, saying,
“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.
“I am confident those same qualities will be a tremendous benefit to our organization as he steps into this new role. From his playing days to his time as an analyst at CBS, Matt has always been a student of the game, and he brings an astute understanding of today’s NFL, as well as unique knowledge of our organization and this market. I have full confidence and trust in Matt as we strive to deliver a championship-caliber team for Atlanta and Falcons fans everywhere,” Blank said.
How Matt Ryan Can Turn the Falcons Around
One advantage of having Ryan on staff in Atlanta is that he already has experience in the area. He knows what it takes to win and get to the Super Bowl. Ryan has the experience and is someone who could work well in a leadership position for the team.
With Ryan being a former player and quarterback at that, he’d be able to see things from a different perspective than some, and that can help when they’re in search of talent. The player would possibly embrace Ryan and want to help bring a championship to Atlanta even more, considering that they were so close to defeating the New England Patriots in 2017.
It was reported by Tori McElhaney of the official team site that Blank also spoke about how Ryan would fit within the organization, stating, “His EQ and IQ when it comes to football is extraordinarily high. I’ve known Matt personally since 2008, and his family, and he’s an outstanding individual, great community leader, and the kind of person you certainly would want to consider in that position.”
Ryan, the player, was a significant asset to the organization, and now he has a chance to have an even greater impact as President of Football.
