The Falcons’ decision to bring Matt Ryan back in as president of football has already paid off in a way that goes beyond the title on the door.
Atlanta made a major leap by handing the job to someone with no previous executive experience, but the early returns have been strong enough that there’s little reason for regret. Ryan’s background as a former player has carried over cleanly into the front office, where he’s shown he understands roster building and has also stayed involved with the people actually putting in the work.
That involvement has been most visible on the practice field. During OTAs and mandatory minicamp, Ryan was around consistently, helping out and keeping close tabs on what was happening. That same presence is expected to continue once training camp opens.
The most eye-catching part, though, is that Ryan hasn’t limited himself to observing. The Athletic’s Josh Kendall pointed to the former NFL MVP as Atlanta’s most interesting offseason storyline, noting that Ryan has been throwing passes during practice as well.
"Matt Ryan won’t stay out of practice drills," Kendall wrote. "The Falcons hired their all-time leading passer and the ostensibly retired Ryan as their new royally titled President of Football. He has the final say on all things related to the on-field product in Atlanta, but his most noticeable role this offseason was as an extra throwing arm in practice."
Ryan has said that when he retired, he didn’t believe his shoulders could handle much more throwing, which helped lead him to step away from the game. But there’s a big difference between carrying an offense every Sunday and tossing a few passes in a practice setting. In this role, he can help in smaller bursts without the grind that comes with being a starting quarterback.
And this isn’t about him jumping into the middle of a quarterback competition between Tua Tagovailoa and Michael Penix Jr. Ryan is simply giving the Falcons another experienced arm in drills, whether that means helping quarterbacks work on mechanics or getting receivers extra reps.
For Atlanta, the bigger story is the tone shift. Ryan’s presence has been felt on the field and around the building, and that kind of buy-in matters. Arthur Blank’s move to bring him back is looking smarter by the day, even if the act of throwing a few passes in practice is only one part of the picture.
Still, it says plenty about how invested Ryan is in the Falcons’ on-field product. Atlanta has already been validated by the hire more than once, and this latest wrinkle only adds to the sense that the reunion is working.
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ESPNs Olamide Zaccheaus Label Will Hit Falcons Fans A Nerve
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ESPNs Bill Barnwell recently lumped Zaccheaus into his 2026 All-Backup Team, a label that will not sit especially well with Falcons fans who remember how thin the room can feel behind Drake London. Barnwell also framed Zaccheaus as the kind of third receiver who can help stabilize an offense, and maybe even climb the depth chart before the season is over, which is exactly the sort of quiet challenge Atlanta will be watching once rookies report July 24 and the veterans follow on July 28. [Read more 🡒]