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After 14 seasons and becoming the best quarterback in franchise history, Matt Ryan is moving on from the Atlanta Falcons.
Atlanta traded Ryan on Monday to the Indianapolis Colts in exchange for a 2022 third-round draft pick.
Ryan, who turns 37 in May, had been a stalwart for the Falcons since being drafted No. 3 overall in 2008 by the club. His first pass was a touchdown -- 62 yards to Michael Jenkins -- and he ended up as the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2008. The 6-foot-4, 217-pound player had been one of the team's leaders since, a durable player at the most important position in sports.
In 14 years in Atlanta, he missed only three games -- two in 2009 and one in 2019. He threw for at least 4,000 yards every season from 2011 until last season, when he threw for 3,968 yards. He has had at least 20 touchdown passes every year since his rookie season in 2008, when he had 16.
Ryan made the Pro Bowl four times with the Falcons, but no season was more impressive than in 2016, when Ryan completed 69.9% of his passes for a career-high 4,944 yards and 38 touchdowns with seven interceptions.
He was named the NFL's Most Valuable Player that season and led Atlanta to Super Bowl LI against the New England Patriots. That Super Bowl will be one of his lasting legacies with the Falcons. Atlanta held a 28-3 lead over the Patriots in the third quarter but ended up losing 34-28 in overtime.
Atlanta traded Ryan on Monday to the Indianapolis Colts in exchange for a 2022 third-round draft pick.
Ryan, who turns 37 in May, had been a stalwart for the Falcons since being drafted No. 3 overall in 2008 by the club. His first pass was a touchdown -- 62 yards to Michael Jenkins -- and he ended up as the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2008. The 6-foot-4, 217-pound player had been one of the team's leaders since, a durable player at the most important position in sports.
In 14 years in Atlanta, he missed only three games -- two in 2009 and one in 2019. He threw for at least 4,000 yards every season from 2011 until last season, when he threw for 3,968 yards. He has had at least 20 touchdown passes every year since his rookie season in 2008, when he had 16.
Ryan made the Pro Bowl four times with the Falcons, but no season was more impressive than in 2016, when Ryan completed 69.9% of his passes for a career-high 4,944 yards and 38 touchdowns with seven interceptions.
He was named the NFL's Most Valuable Player that season and led Atlanta to Super Bowl LI against the New England Patriots. That Super Bowl will be one of his lasting legacies with the Falcons. Atlanta held a 28-3 lead over the Patriots in the third quarter but ended up losing 34-28 in overtime.