According to the Associated Press on Monday, former National Football League quarterback Matt Ryan of Exton, Pennsylvania retired at the age of 38. Ryan did not play in the NFL in 2023. He played 14 seasons with the Atlanta Falcons from 2008 to 2021, and one more season with the Indianapolis Colts in 2022.
In 234 games, Ryan completed 5551 completions in 8464 attempts for 62792 passing yards, 381 touchdown passes and 183 interceptions. He also had 514 rushes for 1539 rushing yards, and 13 touchdown runs. Ryan even caught a five-yard touchdown pass. That came on a razzle dazzle play on December 30, 2018 in a 34-32 Falcons win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Ryan’s touchdown catch was from wide receiver Mohamed Sanu of New Brunswick. New Jersey at 6:11 of the third quarter. At the time, the Falcons pulled within a field goal (17-14 for the Buccaneers). Ryan is the Falcons all-time leader in completions, passing yards and touchdowns.
Ryan was the third overall pick in the 2008 NFL Draft out of Boston College. He was selected only behind Miami Marlins tackle Jake Long of Detroit, Michigan, and St. Louis Rams defensive end Chris Long of Santa Monica, California. Fascinatingly, Jake and Chris Long were not related. Chris Long was the son of Hall of Fame defensive end and Raiders legend Howie Long of Somerville, Massachusetts.
While with the Falcons, Ryan was a four-time Pro Bowler. He was honoured in 2010, 2012, 2014 and 2016. Twice Ryan led the NFL in pass completions during a single season. He had 408 in 2019, and 407 in 2020. Interestingly, in neither one of those seasons he was selected to the Pro Bowl.
In 2016, Ryan won the NFL Most Valuable Player Award. He completed 373 passes in 534 attempts, for 4944 passing yards, 38 passing touchdowns and seven interceptions. Ryan also had a NFL leading quarterback rating of 117.1, and had 35 rushes for 117 rushing yards. Ryan’s other honour was being named the 2008 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. He completed 265 passes in 434 attempts for 3440 passing yards, 16 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. He also had 55 rushes for 104 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown.
