Matt Ryan might be coming home. Not to throw passes—those days ended in 2022—but to help rebuild a franchise that hasn't been the same since he left.
According to Jay Glazer of Fox Sports, the Atlanta Falcons have had "significant" conversations with their former MVP quarterback about joining the organization in a front office role. Sources close to Ryan say he's seriously considering the move.
From analyst booth to executive suite
"This is a big surprise," Glazer reported on Fox NFL Sunday. "I've actually learned that Arthur Blank, the owner of the Atlanta Falcons, has had talks with Matt Ryan to come back, not like a Philip Rivers move, but actually come in a front office role."
Ryan currently works as an analyst for CBS, appearing on "The NFL Today" pregame show and occasionally calling games. He was literally on air when Glazer broke the news about his potential return to Atlanta on the rival network.
The timing is notable. The Falcons are 6-9, enduring their eighth consecutive losing season. They haven't made the playoffs since Ryan led them to a 28-3 Super Bowl lead that we're all still trying to forget. General manager Terry Fontenot is in his fifth season. Coach Raheem Morris is in his second. Neither has delivered the turnaround Blank expected when he hired them.
What role would Ryan take?
That's the million-dollar question. Glazer described it as "significant," which could mean anything from an advisory position to a more hands-on personnel role.
There's precedent for former quarterbacks making the leap to the front office. John Elway ran the Denver Broncos' football operations for nearly a decade after his Hall of Fame playing career. Dan Marino served as a special advisor with the Dolphins. Tom Brady just bought a stake in the Raiders.
But those moves typically came with transition periods—time spent learning the scouting and personnel side of the business. Ryan would be jumping in with no formal experience as a coach or scout.
That said, he spent 14 years studying film, dissecting defenses, and understanding what makes NFL organizations succeed or fail. He's been breaking down teams on television ever since. The knowledge is there. The question is whether he can apply it in a different context.
Why this makes sense for both sides
For Ryan: He's 40 years old with a young family. The CBS job requires constant travel during the season. A front office role in Atlanta would keep him connected to football while offering more stability and, presumably, a chance to build something lasting.
Ryan was the third overall pick in the 2008 draft and became the Falcons' all-time leading passer with 59,735 yards and 367 touchdowns. He went 124-109-1 as a starter, led Atlanta to Super Bowl LI, and won the 2016 MVP award. The connection to this franchise runs deep.
For the Falcons: They need credibility. They need fresh perspectives. They need someone Arthur Blank trusts implicitly.
Ryan checks all those boxes. He understands what it takes to build a winning culture in Atlanta because he was the one who built it the first time. He's been on the inside when things worked and watched from the outside as they fell apart. That perspective is invaluable.
The bigger question
If Ryan joins the organization, what does that mean for Fontenot and Morris?
Neither is officially on the hot seat, but five straight playoff-less seasons tends to generate questions. If Blank is bringing Ryan into a "significant" role, it's fair to wonder whether he's setting the stage for larger changes.
Ryan could be the GM-in-waiting, learning the ropes before eventually taking over full decision-making authority. Or he could be installed as a buffer between ownership and the current regime—someone Blank trusts to tell him the truth about what's working and what isn't.
Either way, his presence would shift the power dynamics in Atlanta's front office.
What happens next
Glazer noted that conversations are ongoing and nothing has been finalized. Ryan would need to weigh the opportunity against his current CBS role, which pays well and keeps him visible in the national football conversation.
But the chance to come home, to help rebuild the franchise that defined his playing career, to potentially guide Atlanta back to relevance? That's not something you turn down easily.
The Falcons have the longest playoff drought in the NFC. They need a shake-up. Matt Ryan might be exactly the person to provide it.