Chester County Native Matt Ryan Leads Atlanta Falcons to Super Bowl 51

While the Eagles did not make the NFL playoffs this year, local fans could still have a rooting interest when Super Bowl 51 rolls around on Sunday, Feb. 5.

That's because Atlanta Falcons star quarterback, All Pro-selection, and MVP-candidate Matt Ryan has extensive ties to the Philadelphia area.

Ryan grew up in Exton in Chester County, where his family still lives. In fact, Ryan's family still roots for the Eagles, PhillyVoice reports - so long as the Eagles aren't playing the Falcons that week. Ryan and his wife come back to Chester County every off-season, and they still spend summer vacations in Wildwood.

Ryan grew up in Chester County but wound up attending high school at Penn Charter, a private school in Philadelphia.

In fact, Penn Charter and its current crop of students have not forgotten their hero. Fifth grade students at the school made a video this week congratulating Ryan, breaking into a chant:

After Ryan's career at Penn Charter, he went on to Boston College, where he became one of the best quarterbacks in college football. He was drafted third overall in the 2008 NFL draft.

Ryan is in the midst of an incredible 2016-17 season, which has already earned him the NFL Most Valuable Player award from the Pro Football Writers Association.

Houston's NRG Stadium will host Super Bowl 51, which will begin at 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 5, and will be broadcast on Fox. The Patriots are three point favorites over Ryan's Falcons, according to OddsShark.

Image courtesy BrokenSphere via Commons