After 14 years with the Atlanta Falcons, Matt Ryan decided it was time to make a change. After finding out that he would be traded in 2018 NFL season, Ryan went on record saying “it’s not the right fit for me”.
The “matt ryan age” is a quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts. He had spent 14 seasons with the Atlanta Falcons before deciding it was time to move on.
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIA — Matt Ryan believed he’d be a quarterback for either the Atlanta Falcons or the Indianapolis Colts next season.
After a Zoom conversation with Colts general manager Chris Ballard, head coach Frank Reich, offensive coordinator Marcus Brady, and assistant quarterbacks coach Parks Frazier last weekend, he expressed his wish to play for a new club for the first time in his 14-year NFL career. On Monday, the Falcons traded Ryan, 36, to the Colts in exchange for a third-round choice in this year’s draft.
“Their passion, devotion, professionalism, Chris’ responsibility for himself and what he does, Frank’s empathy for my circumstance of understanding of being in a specific location and done it for one manner,” Ryan said during his debut press conference as the Colts’ new starting quarterback on Tuesday. “I simply felt that with their roster and their confidence in what they do, the timing was perfect for me. It was clear that I needed to choose a different path.”
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Last week, Ryan had no clue where he’d be playing next season. That’s because the Falcons were among the clubs interested in trading for quarterback Deshaun Watson, which would have effectively terminated Ryan’s tenure in Atlanta. While they waited for Watson to make a decision on his future, Ryan and the Falcons postponed his $7.5 million roster bonus to Monday. The Falcons had to determine what to do with Ryan when Watson surrendered his no-trade clause to join the Cleveland Browns.
“On my end, it’s obviously been a whirlwind of a week,” Ryan remarked. “We didn’t know how it was going to turn out this time last week. I’ve been lucky in that I’ve never had to deal with a trade or a roster change, which is something that the bulk of the locker room deals with on a daily basis. I think everyone handled it properly from the beginning last week until we were here today. I didn’t agree with what I heard, but then again, you don’t always agree with what you hear.”
According to a source, the Falcons and Colts began trade talks on Friday, before Ryan met with members of the Colts coaching staff on Saturday. The quarterback left the meeting with the impression that it was time for a change. During his time with the Falcons, Ryan passed for 59,775 yards and 367 touchdowns, earning him the NFL MVP award in 2016.
After meeting with Colts general manager Chris Ballard, head coach Frank Reich, and members of his staff over Zoom last weekend, Matt Ryan stated Tuesday that he “felt it was time to move in a different route.” Michael Conroy/AP Photo
“I’m also coming from a position where I was very blessed to have spent 14 years, and I want to thank everyone in the Falcons organization, beginning with [owner] Arthur Blank,” Ryan said. “It’s definitely bittersweet. I’m grateful for the time I spent there. It’s sad to see it come to a close, but I’m really looking forward to seeing what happens next. What this company and crew are all about. For myself and my family, it is a really exciting day.”
Johnny Unitas, Andrew Luck, Peyton Manning, and Philip Rivers are among the best quarterbacks to ever play for the Colts, according to Ryan. Next season, Ryan will be the Colts’ sixth different Week 1 starter in as many years.
The Colts are hoping that Ryan will not only be the next great quarterback to play for them, but that he will also allow them at least a couple of years to identify his successor. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Colts adjusted Ryan’s contract for the last two years, with the $53.9 million remaining guaranteed in some way.
“I’ve indicated from the beginning that I’d want to play as long as I can,” Ryan remarked. “My physique is in excellent condition. I still believe I can play at the highest level I’ve ever played for as long as that is; nobody has a crystal ball to predict how long that will be.”
Ryan recounted how Tom Brady and Matthew Stafford both departed the New England Patriots and the Detroit Lions, respectively, and went on to win Super Bowls in their first seasons with their new clubs (Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Los Angeles Rams). The Colts need to acquire more offensive components before they can even consider themselves a Super Bowl contender. The team is in desperate need of receivers, tight ends, and left tackles. Since 2014, the Colts have only made the playoffs twice.
“I realize I’m only one cog in the wheel, and I need to pull my weight and execute my job effectively,” Ryan said. “It’s a rather sturdy wheel that was made [in Indianapolis]. That’s why I have to be a great teammate and do all in my power to assist the guys. I’m very excited to go to work and get out on the field with these guys and try to help this club win as many games as possible.”
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