Matt Ryan, NFL Star Ending Career 16 Years After Being Drafted

The legendary former Atlanta Falcon quarterback Matt Ryan, who played exceptionally for 16 years in the NFL, has officially retired. 

On Monday, the star retired with class, signing a one-day contract so he “could retire a Falcon,” having spent 14 of his stupendous seasons with Atlanta; the last season he played for the Colts. 

At 38 and already with the NFL MVP in 2016, Ryan decided to retire. The signing, who was picked third overall in 2008 by the Falcons, had 14 storied seasons with Atlanta but was behind centre for the Colts in 2022. Though he did not play in the season after, Ryan announced his retirement and then became a TV analyst. His Falcon loyalty led him to sign a one-day contract this week so that he could retire with the team that made him who he is. 

Ryan led the NFL in completions two years in a row in 2019 and 2020. His crowning glory, however, came in 2016 when he was named the MVP after throwing for 4,944 yards, 38 touchdowns, and just 7 interceptions to help the Falcons reach 11-5. 

Ryan was also picked for the Pro Bowl four times and was the percent QB to lead his team to the Super Bowl against the New England Patriots in a historic duel that ended in a narrow, heart-wrenching loss in overtime. 

Ryan has made 234 iconic starts in the NFL, 222 of them with the Falcons, and a career record of 124-109-1. He missed only three games for the Falcons; he is fourth all-time in NFL comebacks in the fourth quarter.