Ex-QB Ryan named Falcons’ president of football

The Atlanta Falcons have officially appointed franchise icon Matt Ryan as their president of football this Saturday morning.

This newly created position will see Ryan oversee the hiring process for both a new general manager and head coach. His appointment had been anticipated, and he will now spearhead the search for the vacant head coach and GM positions.

The team dismissed head coach Raheem Morris and general manager Terry Fontenot last Sunday evening following a lackluster 8-9 season. Atlanta has not seen a playoff berth or a winning record since 2017, which was the final year Ryan played as the quarterback. Morris was let go after two seasons, while Fontenot spent five seasons with the franchise.

In connection with the coaching changes, owner Arthur Blank announced the establishment of the president of football role, which will directly report to him, with the new GM and head coach reporting to Ryan. Falcons president Greg Beadles has been elevated to president and CEO and will collaborate with Ryan to ensure alignment of the organization’s football and business objectives.

The Falcons have also conducted interviews with Chicago Bears assistant GM Ian Cunningham, Detroit Lions COO Mike Disner, San Francisco 49ers director of scouting and football operations Josh Williams, and Carolina Panthers executive vice president Brandt Tillis for the football president role.

All interviewed candidates are expected to be in contention for the open general manager position, with Cunningham regarded as a leading contender, according to ESPN sources. Cunningham is currently with the Bears under GM Ryan Poles, a former teammate of Ryan’s at Boston College.

Ryan, a four-time Pro Bowler, stands out as perhaps the greatest player in Falcons’ history and is a likely Hall of Fame candidate. He led Atlanta to the playoffs five times, including an appearance in the Super Bowl. Ryan holds franchise records for career passing yards (59,745) and passing touchdowns (367), among numerous other milestones.

«Throughout his exceptional 14-year career in Atlanta, Matt’s leadership, meticulousness, game knowledge, and unwavering determination made him the most accomplished player in our franchise’s history,» Blank stated. «I am confident these qualities will greatly benefit our organization as he transitions into this new position. From his playing days to his role as a CBS analyst, Matt has remained a dedicated student of the game, providing a keen insight into today’s NFL, as well as a distinct understanding of our organization and this market. I place complete confidence and trust in Matt as we aim to deliver a championship-quality team for Atlanta and all Falcons fans.»