Matt Ryan has officially returned to the Atlanta Falcons. On Saturday, the former quarterback signed a deal to join the organization as president of football, a newly created role designed specifically for him to take on a prominent position within the front office. Ryan returns to the team he played for for a decade and a half.
Shannon Sharpe Criticizes Jerry Jones Following Falcons’ Matt Ryan Hire
The former quarterback previously worked with CBS Sports as an analyst but answered the call to help Atlanta. After the season, the Falcons fired head coach Raheem Morris and general manager Terry Fontenot. As a result, the organization is undergoing a complete front-office reset.
As soon as Ryan’s hiring was made official, opinions began to surface. Former ESPN reporter Ed Werder suggested that, just as Ryan was helping the Falcons, Troy Aikman should do the same for the Cowboys. However, Shannon Sharpe joined the conversation and placed the blame elsewhere — on Jerry Jones.
Mr Blank doesn’t care about credit. Cowboys owner does. https://t.co/KT3DGX1jEv
— shannon sharpe (@ShannonSharpe) January 11, 2026
Aikman has worked in the media since the 2001 season, the first after his retirement. He transitioned from Fox to ESPN and has remained in broadcasting ever since. Despite his strong ties to the Dallas Cowboys, his last role with the franchise came on the field.
Aikman was the first overall pick in 1989, the first draft selection made after Jerry Jones purchased the Cowboys. He went on to play 12 seasons before retiring. During his career, he was selected to six Pro Bowls, led the league in completion percentage in 1993, and was named MVP of Super Bowl XXVII.
Leading an offense that featured Emmitt Smith and Michael Irvin, Aikman was part of three of the Cowboys’ five Super Bowl championships. He is widely regarded as the best quarterback in franchise history, and his career earned him induction into both the College Football Hall of Fame and the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Sharpe’s comments about Jones are nothing new. The owner famously fired head coach Jimmy Johnson after internal conflicts over the team’s success, and the franchise has not returned to the NFC Championship Game since. Aikman understands the difficulty of working under Jones, and even his deep affection for the organization would not make the situation easier.
Ryan, meanwhile, transitioned into a front-office role just three years after his retirement. Aikman, on the other hand, has been removed from the league for more than two decades, making a similar move highly unlikely.
