Matt Ryan, Former Atlanta Falcons Quarterback, Retires From NFL

ATLANTA, GA — After living a dream come true, former Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan is retiring from the NFL.

Ryan made the announcement Monday on X, formerly Twitter, as he thanked Atlanta, the Falcons and football. The 38-year-old was drafted to the Falcons on April 26, 2008 as the third pick.

He is now retiring after signing a one-day contract with the Falcons, Fox 5 Atlanta reported.

Ryan spent 14 seasons with the Falcons; his final game with the team concluded the 2021 season when the Falcons played the New Orleans Saints on Jan. 9, 2022. He then went on to the Indianapolis Colts for one season.

"I'm honored to retire as a Falcon," Ryan said in the video announcement. "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 it everything I could to be the best that I possibly could."

He added he is proud to finish where he started.

According to the Falcons, Ryan played in 222 games with the team. The Falcons called Ryan "a legend" and "an icon."

Speaking at a press conference Monday, Ryan said all he wanted as a child was to play professional sports.

"For the fans of Atlanta, I want to say thank you. I think for the 14 years that I was the quarterback here that I felt the passion and the energy all the time, and it wasn't all smooth sailing," Ryan said at the news conference.

"There were ups and downs, and I'm sure lots of frustration, and lots of enjoyable times, as well; but, I never took it lightly. I kind of understood the position and the responsibility that I had, and I tried to do it as best as I could every day to come out and be the best version of myself and try and be the best quarterback for this organization and this city."

Falcons owner Arthur M. Blank noted in a statement that Ryan was the 2008 Rookie of the Year and led the team to the playoffs in his first season. Blank said Ryan is also the holder of "every significant passing record" in the team's history.

He said Ryan is a man of class, integrity and character. Blank identified Ryan as a future candidate for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.

"I cannot thank him enough for what he has meant to our team and fans, and I firmly believe he should and will be enshrined in Canton in the future and look forward to that day," Blank said in the statement. " ... Matt Ryan is a Falcon for life and he and his family will always be part of the fabric of Atlanta."

More about Ryan's retirement, including a transcript of his announcement, can be found here.