Former Falcons MVP QB Matt Ryan officially announces retirement

Ryan spent 14 years with the Falcons before he was shockingly traded to the Indianapolis Colts in 2022 where he played one season, and then jumped into a TV broadcasting career. 

He will always be remembered as one of the faces of the Falcons franchise. 

Ryan, known as Matty Ice by many Atlanta fans, was the Falcons' No. 3 overall pick of the 2008 NFL draft. 

He won the Offensive Rookie of the Year, earned four Pro Bowl nods, and led Atlanta to six playoff appearances, including a Super Bowl appearance. 

His best season to date came in 2016 when he was crowned MVP after tossing career-highs of 4,944 yards and 38 touchdowns with only seven interceptions. 

Ryan officially hangs up his jersey after throwing for 62,792 total passing yards and 381 touchdowns. 

He finishes his career currently ranked seventh in NFL history for passing yards and ninth in career touchdown passes.

Matt Ryan's Shouts Out His Coaches, Teammates and Fans in Retirement Speech

Below is Ryan's full retirement speech: 

April 26, 2008. My lifelong dream came true. Ever since I can remember, all I ever wanted to do was play professional sports. And on that Saturday in New York City, the Atlanta Falcons gave me that chance.

Thank you to Arthur Blank, Mike Smith, and Thomas Dimitroff for making that dream of mine a reality. The first season was special. I learned quickly from veteran teammates like Todd McClure, Keith Brooking, Brian Finneran, Lawyer Milloy, John Abraham, and a whole bunch of others, what it took to be a true professional. And for the rest of my career. I always tried to be that example for other teammates.

Football is the ultimate team sport, and your teammates and coaches making joy in the highs so much fun. And navigating lows, all the more bearable. I was lucky to be surrounded by so many great teammates and coaches.

I learned very quickly what greatness looked like. From Roddy White, Tony Gonzales and Michael Turner. A few years later enters Julio Jones and for ten years, I was lucky to be his teammate. 

Seven years with Mike Smith as a head coach, and six with Dan Quinn made me learn what leading men truly look like. It shaped my views on leadership significantly. I'm so thankful to have played for those guys for so long. And appreciated my one year with  Arthur Smith.

I truly believe that football, like life is not simply about what you do, but rather who you do it with. And I was a better player because of the people I was surrounded by.

So today 16 years after being drafted, my childhood dream has officially come to an end. I'm honored to retire as a Falcon.

Thank you to all the Falcons fans for your continued support. Through the highs and the lows. I always felt your energy and passion. I want you to know that every day I felt the responsibility to give you the best version of myself. While we didn't accomplish everything we had hoped. I am proud of what we did. And I know that I gave everything I could to be the best that I possibly could

You have no control in this profession of where you start. I am so lucky that my start. And now my finish is here in Atlanta.