Former Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan, who won the NFL Most Valuable Player award in 2016, announced his retirement from professional football.

Ryan signed a one-day deal with the Falcons in order to retire as a member of the franchise. He made the news official through a video statement in which he said that his “childhood dream has officially come to an end.”

“I’m excited to see what’s next, this next chapter of life, and see where that takes us,” Ryan added. “But today, it’s exciting for me because you never have control in this profession of where you’re going to start, and I could not have been luckier that it was a start here in Atlanta, and it went for 14 years, and now I can bookend it and retire as a Falcon today.”

Ryan was drafted third overall by the Falcons in 2008 and went on to play 14 years with the franchise. During that time, he made four Pro Bowls, won the MVP, and led Atlanta to a Super Bowl LI appearance. Ryan also holds almost every Falcons franchise record in the passing category.  

Ahead of the 2022 season, the Falcons traded Ryan to the Indianapolis Colts as they were looking toward a rebuild. Ryan struggled with his new team, going 4-7-1 as a starter, and was eventually released by the Colts at the end of the campaign. He didn’t sign with a team in 2023, opting to join CBS Sports as an analyst.

Ryan is retiring after having posted a 65.6% pass completion percentage with 62,792 passing yards, 381 touchdowns, 183 interceptions, and a 124−109−1 record as a starter.

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Veteran quarterback Matt Ryan made it clear on several occasions that he isn’t retired from football. However, he has no interest in making his comeback to the NFL with the New York Jets.

Ryan is currently working as an analyst with CBS Sports and apparently prefers to stay in that role rather than try to bail out the desperate Jets.

“I’m really enjoying what I’m doing,” said Ryan. “(My agent) wouldn’t be doing his job if he wasn’t looking into certain situations. He and I talked, and I got no interest in doing that right now.”

The Jets entered the 2023 season with four-time MVP Aaron Rodgers as their quarterback. But Rodgers suffered a season-ending Achilles injury in Week 1, forcing the New York team to turn to third-year signal caller Zach Wilson.

Wilson struggled since being pushed into the starting role, completing 52.4% of his passes and throwing for only 467 yards and two touchdowns. He also has four interceptions.

The Jets are reportedly leaning towards bringing in a veteran quarterback to try and salvage their season and had significant interest in Ryan. Unfortunately, this option doesn’t seem to be on the table anymore and they will likely have to look elsewhere or hope that Wilson starts playing better.

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When veteran quarterback Matt Ryan accepted a broadcasting job with CBS Sports earlier this offseason, many believed it was a sign that the former NFL MVP was done with playing football. But if you ask Ryan, he doesn’t view his CBS Sports gig as being retired.

Speaking with The Athletic in a recent interview, Ryan reiterated his intention to play football again if the right opportunity comes his way.

“I’m staying in shape,” said Ryan. “I think it is kind of, ‘You know my number. You know where I’m at.’ If anything were to come up, you know, we’ll see. [CBS] is where my focus is right now. But we’ll see how the season shakes out.”

Ryan had a disappointing 2022 season, going 4-7-1 as a starter with the Indianapolis Colts. The 38-year-old player finished the campaign throwing for 3,057 yards, 14 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions.

Prior to arriving in Indianapolis, Matt Ryan spent the first 14 years of his pro career with the Atlanta Falcons. During that time, Ryan made four Pro Bowls while winning the NFL MVP award in 2016, the same season he led the Falcons to a Super Bowl appearance. He holds a number of franchise records, including most passing TDs, most passing yards, and most wins.

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Veteran quarterback Matt Ryan, who was NFL MVP in 2016, will step off the field and into the broadcasting booth for the 2023 season. Ryan confirmed on his social media that he reached a deal with CBS Sports to become their new football analyst.

Announcing the news, Ryan made sure to point out that “this is not a retirement post.”

“It is truly an honor to join this exceptional team at CBS Sports,” said Ryan in a statement. “I have been blessed to have incredible teammates throughout my career, and I am fortunate that I will continue here working with and learning from the very best in the industry.”

Ryan played the 2022 season with the Indianapolis Colts but was benched two times due to poor performances. The 37-year-old Ryan finished the campaign with a 4-7-1 record as a starter, throwing for 3,057 yards, 14 touchdowns, and 13 picks. He was released by the Colts at the end of the season.

The Colts still owe Ryan $18 million for 2024, which is the most likely reason why he won’t retire just yet. If he was to retire, he would walk away from that money. Also, the veteran is likely keeping his options open in case he founds a situation where he could step in and be a short-term starter or a high-end backup.

Before coming to Indianapolis, Matt Ryan played 14 seasons with the Atlanta Falcons. During that time, he led the Falcons to a Super Bowl LI appearance while earning four Pro Bowl appearances and NFL MVP honors. Ryan currently holds several NFL records, including consecutive NFL games with at least 200 passing yards with 64.

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The Atlanta Falcons will have a new starting quarterback in 2022 for the first time since 2008. This is a result of the franchise’s decision to trade veteran Matt Ryan, who is heading to the Indianapolis Colts.

According to the official announcement, the Falcons will receive a third-round selection from the Colts in exchange for Ryan. The deal marks an end of an era for Atlanta, which is expected to embark on a full-time rebuild moving forward. 

The Falcons tried to acquire Pro Bowler Deshaun Watson earlier this month, signaling that they no longer see Ryan as part of their future. However, Watson chose to go to the Cleveland Browns and left Atlanta and Ryan in an awkward position. Luckily, the Colts came calling and provided an easy resolution for the complicated situation.

The Colts were on the market for a new QB after bailing on the Carson Wentz experiment and sending the North Dakota State product to the Washington Commanders. Reportedly, Indianapolis believes Ryan was the best available option on the market and views the 36-year-old player as someone who can help them remain competitive while looking for their QB of the future.

“We’re thrilled we had a chance to acquire a proven veteran in Matt Ryan who brings tremendous experience to our team,” said Colts general manager Chris Ballard. “Matt’s leadership and skillset will complement our roster’s growth and success. He’s long been a great ambassador for the NFL and the Atlanta Falcons, and we’re excited he can continue his accomplished career in Indianapolis.”

Matt Ryan proved to be a durable and impactful quarterback since entering the NFL as a third overall pick in the 2008 NFL Draft. He only missed three games as a pro and has led the Falcons to six postseason appearances, including a Super Bowl trip in 2016. Ryan, who passed for 59,735 yards and 367 touchdowns so far in his career, has four Pro Bowl nods and one MVP award on his resume.

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The Atlanta Falcons have found their new general manager and head coach this week.

The team will hire former New Orleans Saints front office executive Terry Fontenot, who spent the last 18 years in New Orleans. The new head coach will be former Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator Arthur Smith.

Both Fontenot and Smith said that they will collaborate heavily in order to shape the Falcons’ roster both through the draft and in free agency. The Falcons hold the No. 4 pick in the 2021 NFL draft.

Smith also noted that he will be calling the offensive plays as head coach, stating that he believes that Atlanta’s veteran quarterback Matt Ryan is still a “terrific quarterback” with whom the team can win.

He also said that the goal will be to play to the strengths of Atlanta’s roster instead of insisting on trying to replicate the run-heavy success that he had in Tennessee with star running back Derrick Henry leading the attack.

Fontenot interviewed with four other teams for their open general manager jobs before deciding to take the Falcons job, stating that he is already very familiar with the Falcons’ roster since Atlanta and New Orleans are division rivals that play each other twice a year.

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Just when Atlanta Falcons thought that their season couldn’t get any worse, their season got worse. Falcons didn’t just suffer 37-10 loss to LA Rams on Sunday, but they also saw their quarterback Matt Ryan get hurt.

At the beginning of the fourth quarter, Falcons o-line couldn’t contain Rams’ superstar defensive tackle Aaron Donald, who managed through to Ryan and sack him. This was the fifth time in the game that the 34-year-old got sacked, and it turned out to be the deciding one.

Following Donald’s sack, Ryan remained on the ground for a short period of time and then started limping towards the sidelines. He didn’t return for the rest of the game.

Speaking with media after the game, Falcons coach Dan Quinn couldn’t disclose how serious the injury actually was.

 “I didn’t get a chance to visit with him yet after the game, so we’ll get a better sense for where we’ll go [later in the week],” – said Quinn. “If he’s not able to, obviously we’ll lean on Matt Schaub who’s got plenty of experience. I know how tough Matt is; if there’s a chance he can go — I don’t know the extent of the injury, where we’re at yet, so I think I’ll have a better answer as we’re heading into the week, but I don’t know the extent of it yet.”

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Matt Ryan is scheduled to undergo an MRI, after which more information will be available. The team, however, doesn’t think that the injury is serious and expects Ryan to make a quick recovery.

Ryan exited the game against Rams with 159 yards, no touchdowns, and one interception. He has thrown for 2,170 yards and 15 touchdowns so far in 2019.

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Atlanta Falcons decided to re-hire Dirk Koetter as their offensive coordinator back in January, hoping the 60-year-old will manage to have the same success he did during his first stint with the team. While this remains to be seen, it seems like Falcons are already experiencing positive effects of Koetter’s hiring.

During a chat with reporters during Falcon’s organized team activities, Atlanta’s quarterback Matt Ryan shared his excitement to work with Koetter once again saying it has been “lot of fun” working with him in the past months.

“I’m excited to work with Dirk again,” – said Ryan. “I learned so much from him the first time around and he’s kind of picked up a few different things along the way, too, come up with some really good stuff. So, it’s been a lot of fun the last couple of months of getting back to work with Dirk.”

Dirk Koetter first served as Falcons’ OC from 2012 to 2014 and played a crucial role in establishing Ryan as one of the league’s best QBs. During their time together, Ryan averaged an impressive 4,642.7 passing yards and 28.7 touchdowns, while also making two Pro Bowl appearances.

Koetter decided to leave Atlanta in 2015 and become Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ new OC. He was promoted the following season and became the Bucs’ head coach. He served three seasons at the position, and compiled 19–29 record, before being fired after 2018 season.

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Quarterback Matt Ryan and Atlanta Falcons have agreed to a five-year extension, the team has announced on Thursday. The extension will see Ryan becoming the first player in NFL to earn $30 million annually, while the contract includes $100 million guaranteed. The 32-year-old was entering the final year of the $103.75 million extension he signed in 2013.
Falcons confirmed the deal on their official social media accounts.

BREAKING: We have agreed to terms with Matt Ryan on a 5-year extension. The best is yet to come.#FireInIce

STORY – https://t.co/ZDcinOmyPh pic.twitter.com/gfQledy8ur

— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) May 3, 2018

“Matt is getting what he has earned and we all know the marketplace for a great quarterback,” – said Falcons owner Arthur Blank. “League revenues are up, club revenues, new stadiums, and the players are the heart of the game. They’re the ones on the field and they certainly deserve their fair share.“

“Since we drafted him in 2008, he’s been the model face of the franchise, a great leader and he has embraced our values. He has led us on and off the field.” – Blank added.

The extension that Matt Ryan signed on Thursday continues the trend of high salaries for quarterbacks. Recently Minnesota Vikings signed free-agent QB Kirk Cousins to a $28 million annual salary while San Francisco 49ers gave Jimmy Garoppolo $27.5 million.

After playing college football for Boston College, Matt Ryan entered 2008 NFL Draft where Atlanta Falcons took him third overall. He signed a six-year, $72 million contract rookie deal with the organization and became the fourth highest paid quarterback in the league despite not playing a single professional game. Falcons made Ryan their starter and he led them to 11-5 record in his rookie season, passing for 3,440 yards and 16 touchdowns.

Since then Ryan had led the team to five more postseason appearances, with Super Bowl appearance in 2016 when he also earned the NFL Most Valuable Player award for the regular season.

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After a 10-15 defeat to the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFL Divisional Round, the Atlanta Falcons are now shifting their focus to the offseason and making moves to give themselves a chance to reach the Super Bowl once again after 2016.

According to team’s general manager Thomas Dimitroff, the primary concern for the Falcons will be reaching an agreement with their quarterback Matt Ryan about the contract extension.

“No real comment, just the fact that it will be a focus this offseason,” – said Dimitroff. “That’s one that, interestingly enough, will help create flexibility in what we’re doing [going] forward with a number of moves we may be making. Yes, Matt’s focus will be the No. 1 focus.‘”

Although this season wasn’t on the same level as his 2016 MVP season, the Falcons obviously still have a lot of faith in Ryan and won’t be afraid to pay big for the 32-year-old QB. In 2017 regular season, Ryan completed 64.7% of his passes (342 out of 529) for 4,095 yards and 20 touchdowns. In the two playoff games, Ryan threw for 210 and 218 yards and had a touchdown in each of the games.

Besides Ryan, the 42-year-old kicker Matt Bryant should also get an extension in the offseason. Bryant made all 35 extra point attempts and was 34 of 39 in field goal attempts  for the Falcons in 2017.

“Matt Bryant is one that we’re going to talk to here soon about what’s going on next season,” – said Dimitroff. “I think Matt did a heck of a job for us this year. In a lot of ways, he stepped up to the ball and rose to the occasion. I was very proud of him, as I know Dan was. Having a guy who continues to fight age, but he does a very good job with it. He continues to come through for us. He’s an important part.”

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Former Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan, who won the NFL Most Valuable Player award in 2016, announced his retirement from professional football.

Ryan signed a one-day deal with the Falcons in order to retire as a member of the franchise. He made the news official through a video statement in which he said that his “childhood dream has officially come to an end.”

“I’m excited to see what’s next, this next chapter of life, and see where that takes us,” Ryan added. “But today, it’s exciting for me because you never have control in this profession of where you’re going to start, and I could not have been luckier that it was a start here in Atlanta, and it went for 14 years, and now I can bookend it and retire as a Falcon today.”

Ryan was drafted third overall by the Falcons in 2008 and went on to play 14 years with the franchise. During that time, he made four Pro Bowls, won the MVP, and led Atlanta to a Super Bowl LI appearance. Ryan also holds almost every Falcons franchise record in the passing category.  

Ahead of the 2022 season, the Falcons traded Ryan to the Indianapolis Colts as they were looking toward a rebuild. Ryan struggled with his new team, going 4-7-1 as a starter, and was eventually released by the Colts at the end of the campaign. He didn’t sign with a team in 2023, opting to join CBS Sports as an analyst.

Ryan is retiring after having posted a 65.6% pass completion percentage with 62,792 passing yards, 381 touchdowns, 183 interceptions, and a 124−109−1 record as a starter.

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Veteran quarterback Matt Ryan made it clear on several occasions that he isn’t retired from football. However, he has no interest in making his comeback to the NFL with the New York Jets.

Ryan is currently working as an analyst with CBS Sports and apparently prefers to stay in that role rather than try to bail out the desperate Jets.

“I’m really enjoying what I’m doing,” said Ryan. “(My agent) wouldn’t be doing his job if he wasn’t looking into certain situations. He and I talked, and I got no interest in doing that right now.”

The Jets entered the 2023 season with four-time MVP Aaron Rodgers as their quarterback. But Rodgers suffered a season-ending Achilles injury in Week 1, forcing the New York team to turn to third-year signal caller Zach Wilson.

Wilson struggled since being pushed into the starting role, completing 52.4% of his passes and throwing for only 467 yards and two touchdowns. He also has four interceptions.

The Jets are reportedly leaning towards bringing in a veteran quarterback to try and salvage their season and had significant interest in Ryan. Unfortunately, this option doesn’t seem to be on the table anymore and they will likely have to look elsewhere or hope that Wilson starts playing better.

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When veteran quarterback Matt Ryan accepted a broadcasting job with CBS Sports earlier this offseason, many believed it was a sign that the former NFL MVP was done with playing football. But if you ask Ryan, he doesn’t view his CBS Sports gig as being retired.

Speaking with The Athletic in a recent interview, Ryan reiterated his intention to play football again if the right opportunity comes his way.

“I’m staying in shape,” said Ryan. “I think it is kind of, ‘You know my number. You know where I’m at.’ If anything were to come up, you know, we’ll see. [CBS] is where my focus is right now. But we’ll see how the season shakes out.”

Ryan had a disappointing 2022 season, going 4-7-1 as a starter with the Indianapolis Colts. The 38-year-old player finished the campaign throwing for 3,057 yards, 14 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions.

Prior to arriving in Indianapolis, Matt Ryan spent the first 14 years of his pro career with the Atlanta Falcons. During that time, Ryan made four Pro Bowls while winning the NFL MVP award in 2016, the same season he led the Falcons to a Super Bowl appearance. He holds a number of franchise records, including most passing TDs, most passing yards, and most wins.

The post Matt Ryan Says He Still Hopes to Play Again: “I’m Staying In Shape” appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Veteran quarterback Matt Ryan, who was NFL MVP in 2016, will step off the field and into the broadcasting booth for the 2023 season. Ryan confirmed on his social media that he reached a deal with CBS Sports to become their new football analyst.

Announcing the news, Ryan made sure to point out that “this is not a retirement post.”

“It is truly an honor to join this exceptional team at CBS Sports,” said Ryan in a statement. “I have been blessed to have incredible teammates throughout my career, and I am fortunate that I will continue here working with and learning from the very best in the industry.”

Ryan played the 2022 season with the Indianapolis Colts but was benched two times due to poor performances. The 37-year-old Ryan finished the campaign with a 4-7-1 record as a starter, throwing for 3,057 yards, 14 touchdowns, and 13 picks. He was released by the Colts at the end of the season.

The Colts still owe Ryan $18 million for 2024, which is the most likely reason why he won’t retire just yet. If he was to retire, he would walk away from that money. Also, the veteran is likely keeping his options open in case he founds a situation where he could step in and be a short-term starter or a high-end backup.

Before coming to Indianapolis, Matt Ryan played 14 seasons with the Atlanta Falcons. During that time, he led the Falcons to a Super Bowl LI appearance while earning four Pro Bowl appearances and NFL MVP honors. Ryan currently holds several NFL records, including consecutive NFL games with at least 200 passing yards with 64.

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The Atlanta Falcons will have a new starting quarterback in 2022 for the first time since 2008. This is a result of the franchise’s decision to trade veteran Matt Ryan, who is heading to the Indianapolis Colts.

According to the official announcement, the Falcons will receive a third-round selection from the Colts in exchange for Ryan. The deal marks an end of an era for Atlanta, which is expected to embark on a full-time rebuild moving forward. 

The Falcons tried to acquire Pro Bowler Deshaun Watson earlier this month, signaling that they no longer see Ryan as part of their future. However, Watson chose to go to the Cleveland Browns and left Atlanta and Ryan in an awkward position. Luckily, the Colts came calling and provided an easy resolution for the complicated situation.

The Colts were on the market for a new QB after bailing on the Carson Wentz experiment and sending the North Dakota State product to the Washington Commanders. Reportedly, Indianapolis believes Ryan was the best available option on the market and views the 36-year-old player as someone who can help them remain competitive while looking for their QB of the future.

“We’re thrilled we had a chance to acquire a proven veteran in Matt Ryan who brings tremendous experience to our team,” said Colts general manager Chris Ballard. “Matt’s leadership and skillset will complement our roster’s growth and success. He’s long been a great ambassador for the NFL and the Atlanta Falcons, and we’re excited he can continue his accomplished career in Indianapolis.”

Matt Ryan proved to be a durable and impactful quarterback since entering the NFL as a third overall pick in the 2008 NFL Draft. He only missed three games as a pro and has led the Falcons to six postseason appearances, including a Super Bowl trip in 2016. Ryan, who passed for 59,735 yards and 367 touchdowns so far in his career, has four Pro Bowl nods and one MVP award on his resume.

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The Atlanta Falcons have found their new general manager and head coach this week.

The team will hire former New Orleans Saints front office executive Terry Fontenot, who spent the last 18 years in New Orleans. The new head coach will be former Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator Arthur Smith.

Both Fontenot and Smith said that they will collaborate heavily in order to shape the Falcons’ roster both through the draft and in free agency. The Falcons hold the No. 4 pick in the 2021 NFL draft.

Smith also noted that he will be calling the offensive plays as head coach, stating that he believes that Atlanta’s veteran quarterback Matt Ryan is still a “terrific quarterback” with whom the team can win.

He also said that the goal will be to play to the strengths of Atlanta’s roster instead of insisting on trying to replicate the run-heavy success that he had in Tennessee with star running back Derrick Henry leading the attack.

Fontenot interviewed with four other teams for their open general manager jobs before deciding to take the Falcons job, stating that he is already very familiar with the Falcons’ roster since Atlanta and New Orleans are division rivals that play each other twice a year.

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Just when Atlanta Falcons thought that their season couldn’t get any worse, their season got worse. Falcons didn’t just suffer 37-10 loss to LA Rams on Sunday, but they also saw their quarterback Matt Ryan get hurt.

At the beginning of the fourth quarter, Falcons o-line couldn’t contain Rams’ superstar defensive tackle Aaron Donald, who managed through to Ryan and sack him. This was the fifth time in the game that the 34-year-old got sacked, and it turned out to be the deciding one.

Following Donald’s sack, Ryan remained on the ground for a short period of time and then started limping towards the sidelines. He didn’t return for the rest of the game.

Speaking with media after the game, Falcons coach Dan Quinn couldn’t disclose how serious the injury actually was.

 “I didn’t get a chance to visit with him yet after the game, so we’ll get a better sense for where we’ll go [later in the week],” – said Quinn. “If he’s not able to, obviously we’ll lean on Matt Schaub who’s got plenty of experience. I know how tough Matt is; if there’s a chance he can go — I don’t know the extent of the injury, where we’re at yet, so I think I’ll have a better answer as we’re heading into the week, but I don’t know the extent of it yet.”

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Matt Ryan is scheduled to undergo an MRI, after which more information will be available. The team, however, doesn’t think that the injury is serious and expects Ryan to make a quick recovery.

Ryan exited the game against Rams with 159 yards, no touchdowns, and one interception. He has thrown for 2,170 yards and 15 touchdowns so far in 2019.

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Atlanta Falcons decided to re-hire Dirk Koetter as their offensive coordinator back in January, hoping the 60-year-old will manage to have the same success he did during his first stint with the team. While this remains to be seen, it seems like Falcons are already experiencing positive effects of Koetter’s hiring.

During a chat with reporters during Falcon’s organized team activities, Atlanta’s quarterback Matt Ryan shared his excitement to work with Koetter once again saying it has been “lot of fun” working with him in the past months.

“I’m excited to work with Dirk again,” – said Ryan. “I learned so much from him the first time around and he’s kind of picked up a few different things along the way, too, come up with some really good stuff. So, it’s been a lot of fun the last couple of months of getting back to work with Dirk.”

Dirk Koetter first served as Falcons’ OC from 2012 to 2014 and played a crucial role in establishing Ryan as one of the league’s best QBs. During their time together, Ryan averaged an impressive 4,642.7 passing yards and 28.7 touchdowns, while also making two Pro Bowl appearances.

Koetter decided to leave Atlanta in 2015 and become Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ new OC. He was promoted the following season and became the Bucs’ head coach. He served three seasons at the position, and compiled 19–29 record, before being fired after 2018 season.

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Quarterback Matt Ryan and Atlanta Falcons have agreed to a five-year extension, the team has announced on Thursday. The extension will see Ryan becoming the first player in NFL to earn $30 million annually, while the contract includes $100 million guaranteed. The 32-year-old was entering the final year of the $103.75 million extension he signed in 2013.
Falcons confirmed the deal on their official social media accounts.

BREAKING: We have agreed to terms with Matt Ryan on a 5-year extension. The best is yet to come.#FireInIce

STORY – https://t.co/ZDcinOmyPh pic.twitter.com/gfQledy8ur

— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) May 3, 2018

“Matt is getting what he has earned and we all know the marketplace for a great quarterback,” – said Falcons owner Arthur Blank. “League revenues are up, club revenues, new stadiums, and the players are the heart of the game. They’re the ones on the field and they certainly deserve their fair share.“

“Since we drafted him in 2008, he’s been the model face of the franchise, a great leader and he has embraced our values. He has led us on and off the field.” – Blank added.

The extension that Matt Ryan signed on Thursday continues the trend of high salaries for quarterbacks. Recently Minnesota Vikings signed free-agent QB Kirk Cousins to a $28 million annual salary while San Francisco 49ers gave Jimmy Garoppolo $27.5 million.

After playing college football for Boston College, Matt Ryan entered 2008 NFL Draft where Atlanta Falcons took him third overall. He signed a six-year, $72 million contract rookie deal with the organization and became the fourth highest paid quarterback in the league despite not playing a single professional game. Falcons made Ryan their starter and he led them to 11-5 record in his rookie season, passing for 3,440 yards and 16 touchdowns.

Since then Ryan had led the team to five more postseason appearances, with Super Bowl appearance in 2016 when he also earned the NFL Most Valuable Player award for the regular season.

The post Atlanta Falcons Agree to a 5-year Extension with QB Matt Ryan appeared first on SportzBonanza.

After a 10-15 defeat to the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFL Divisional Round, the Atlanta Falcons are now shifting their focus to the offseason and making moves to give themselves a chance to reach the Super Bowl once again after 2016.

According to team’s general manager Thomas Dimitroff, the primary concern for the Falcons will be reaching an agreement with their quarterback Matt Ryan about the contract extension.

“No real comment, just the fact that it will be a focus this offseason,” – said Dimitroff. “That’s one that, interestingly enough, will help create flexibility in what we’re doing [going] forward with a number of moves we may be making. Yes, Matt’s focus will be the No. 1 focus.‘”

Although this season wasn’t on the same level as his 2016 MVP season, the Falcons obviously still have a lot of faith in Ryan and won’t be afraid to pay big for the 32-year-old QB. In 2017 regular season, Ryan completed 64.7% of his passes (342 out of 529) for 4,095 yards and 20 touchdowns. In the two playoff games, Ryan threw for 210 and 218 yards and had a touchdown in each of the games.

Besides Ryan, the 42-year-old kicker Matt Bryant should also get an extension in the offseason. Bryant made all 35 extra point attempts and was 34 of 39 in field goal attempts  for the Falcons in 2017.

“Matt Bryant is one that we’re going to talk to here soon about what’s going on next season,” – said Dimitroff. “I think Matt did a heck of a job for us this year. In a lot of ways, he stepped up to the ball and rose to the occasion. I was very proud of him, as I know Dan was. Having a guy who continues to fight age, but he does a very good job with it. He continues to come through for us. He’s an important part.”

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