‘Final authority will rest with him’: Falcons quietly move closer to bringing Matt Ryan back in charge

The Atlanta Falcons completed an interview with franchise icon Matt Ryan on Friday for their newly created president of football role, the team announced Jan. 10. The position did not exist before this offseason and comes amid a full organizational reset.Ryan has not been hired. But around the league, the interview is widely viewed as a formality. Multiple outlets, including Falcons Wire and ProFootballTalk, have reported that Ryan is considered the leading candidate as owner Arthur Blank restructures the football side of the organization following another losing season.Blank made it clear this job is not symbolic. “The leader in this new role will set the vision and identity for our team,” Blank wrote in a letter shared with fans. “Our new head coach and general manager will report to the new president of football, and they will work collaboratively as a football leadership team on all football decisions. Final decision-making authority will rest with the president of football.”That language matters. If Ryan is hired, he would outrank both the next general manager and head coach. He would report directly to Blank. The structure mirrors how teams like the Eagles and 49ers centralize football power, but it is new for Atlanta.The Falcons have also interviewed Lions chief operating officer Mike Disner, Panthers executive vice president Brandt Tilis, 49ers director of scouting Josh Williams, and Bears assistant GM Ian Cunningham. Any of those candidates could still factor into Atlanta’s front office, particularly for the vacant general manager role.Ryan’s candidacy stands apart because of trust. Blank has emphasized leadership, vision, and alignment. Ryan checks all three boxes in the owner’s eyes.Ryan spent 14 seasons with the Falcons after being drafted third overall in 2008. He won the NFL MVP in 2016, led Atlanta to its second Super Bowl appearance, and retired as the most accomplished player in franchise history.He holds Falcons records for passing yards at 55,767, touchdowns at 347, passer rating at 94.5, and 300 yard games at 69. He was inducted into the team’s Ring of Honor in October 2024.Since retiring in spring 2024, Ryan has worked as a CBS Sports analyst. Reports from Falcons Wire indicate Ryan has explored whether he could keep some broadcasting responsibilities if hired, though ProFootballTalk’s Mike Florio reported that Ryan would likely step away from CBS if he takes the job full time.Blank has also pointed to Ryan’s deep roots in the city. Ryan and his wife, Sarah, have lived in Atlanta for 18 years and remain active in the community through their nonprofit, ATL: Advance the Lives.The football question remains unanswered. Ryan has never worked in an NFL front office. That uncertainty is real. But so is the Falcons’ reality. The team has missed the playoffs eight straight seasons. The last time Atlanta played postseason football, Ryan was still its quarterback.This hire would be a gamble. It would also be a statement. Atlanta is betting that the most trusted voice in franchise history is the one capable of fixing what has not worked for nearly a decade.