Atlanta Falcons Release Quarterback Marcus Mariota

ATLANTA, GA — Atlanta Falcons quarterback Marcus Mariota has been released in efforts to save millions of dollars, the team announced Tuesday.

With the release of Mariota, the Falcons is set to add more money to their cap savings, according to a news release. The team should save around $12 million in salary cap space, making the full cap space equal more than $65 million, according to the release.

Mariota joined the Falcons in March 2022 after former Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan was traded. He signed a two-year deal with the team but only completed one year.

He played 13 games as the Falcons' starting quarterback, generating a 5-8 record. Mariota threw for more than 2,000 yards, with 15 touchdowns and nine interceptions, according to the release.

"His presence was arguably most felt in the run game, though, as he would go on to carry the ball 85 times for 438 rushing yards (the most of his career). With Mariota, Cordarrelle Patterson, Tyler Allgeier and Caleb Huntley the Falcons run game was a force to be reckoned with throughout the 2022 season," Falcons officials said in the release.

Mariota was first drafted to the Tennessee Titans with the second overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, becoming the team's offensive coordinator, before eventually landing a spot with the Las Vegas Raiders, according to the release.

The league year begins March 15.