Longtime Falcons QB Matt Ryan officially retires from NFL after playing 15 seasons

Matt Ryan last played professional football in December 2022. He officially called it a career in the fourth month of 2024.

Ryan announced his retirement from the NFL on Monday after 15 seasons (14 with the Atlanta Falcons and one with the Indianapolis Colts) with a heartfelt video message to the organization he played the majority of his career for and its fanbase.

In the video, Ryan reflected on the day he was selected third overall by Atlanta in the 2008 NFL Draft, thanked the veterans he played with in his first season for teaching him priceless lessons early in his NFL career, and other key teammates and coaches throughout his career, with receiver Julio Jones leading the way.

Ryan never mentioned his NFL Most Valuable Player Award earned in 2016, nor did he bring up the crushing loss his Falcons suffered at the hands of the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LI. He didn't need to, though: His career arc already did that for him.

Ryan arrived in Atlanta as the franchise's much-needed replacement for Michael Vick, who had exited Atlanta in disgrace before later reclaiming his career in Philadelphia. And with every step Ryan took as the new starter in town, he helped Atlanta find a reason to believe in the Falcons again, giving them a leader who had an arm capable of throwing the franchise to great heights.

He peaked in 2016 under the direction of offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan, who unleashed his offensive scheme on the rest of the NFL and helped Ryan secure his lone NFL MVP of his career. That same season, Ryan and the Falcons stormed through the NFC, rolling the Seahawks and Packers on their way to an appearance in Super Bowl LI, where they took a 28-3 lead that, for a moment, seemed insurmountable. It all came