The Atlanta Falcons hired Matt Ryan to be their president of football, a newly created position at the top of the organization that team owner Arthur Blank hopes will change the fortunes of his sagging franchise.
“Throughout his remarkable 14-year career in Atlanta, Matt’s leadership, attention to detail, knowledge of the game and unrelenting drive to win made him the most successful player in our franchise’s history,” Blank said in a statement released shortly after Ryan formally accepted the job Saturday morning.
“I am confident those same qualities will be a tremendous benefit to our organization as he steps into this new role. … I have full confidence and trust in Matt as we strive to deliver a championship caliber team for Atlanta and Falcons fans everywhere.”
Ryan, 40, will complete his duties with CBS during the league’s wild-card weekend and then will turn his attention fully to the Falcons’ job. He will make a final appearance on Sunday’s episode of “The NFL Today,” a CBS Sports spokesperson told The Athletic.
CBS Sports president and CEO David Berson thanked Ryan for his work with the network and said he knows Ryan will “bring the same level of excellence” to his new role as Ryan did as a quarterback and TV analyst.
Ryan is set to be formally introduced at a Tuesday news conference. The Falcons first reached out to Ryan weeks ago about the job, league sources told The Athletic.
“I know first-hand what a great foundation this organization has and I’m confident we can build on that and cement a culture of accountability, tenacity, resilience and winning,” Ryan said in the team’s statement. “Setting clear expectations for every single person who walks into Flowery Branch or puts on a Falcons uniform, reinvigorating our approach with strategic thinking, and being disciplined about finding near-term wins to set us up for long-term success — these are all priorities and principles I will bring to this role.”
Leading Atlanta pic.twitter.com/EECcmfVhK1
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) January 10, 2026
The Falcons interviewed Chicago Bears assistant general manager Ian Cunningham, San Francisco 49ers director of scouting and football operations Josh Williams, Detroit Lions chief operating officer Mike Disner and Carolina Panthers vice president of football operations Brandt Tillis for the job earlier this week.
The Athletic’s Dianna Russini reported Saturday that the team also will consider all four for their vacant GM position. Cunningham — who works under Chicago general manager Ryan Poles, who was Ryan’s teammate at Boston College and remains a close confidant — is considered one of the favorites for that position.
Ryan will lead the search for the new coach and new general manager and will be part of all interviews, including those scheduled for this weekend, despite his duties at CBS. The Falcons will interview Seattle offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak on Saturday, according to NFL Network.
Once those hires are complete, both positions will report directly to Ryan, and he will have the final say on all of Atlanta’s football decisions, according to Blank.
“My history with this team speaks for itself, and I’m really grateful for it, and the great relationship I’ve been lucky to have with Arthur and his family,” Ryan said via the team’s statement. “I also recognize this side of football is not where I’ve come up. I’ve played, I’ve commented, but I haven’t directly operated. I think I’m humble enough to recognize there will be some baptism by fire, but I’m ready for that. … I do understand the weight of a role like this — I’ve lived it.
“I have confidence in the perspective my years as a player and a team leader give me. This is not a new table; it’s just a new seat.”
The Falcons drafted Ryan third overall in 2008, and he played 14 seasons in Atlanta, winning the 2016 MVP and appearing in 10 career playoff games.
He is the franchise’s career passing leader (59,735), and he ranks ninth in the NFL in passing yards (62,792) after spending one year in Indianapolis following a 2021 trade that sent him from the Falcons to the Colts in exchange for a third-round pick.
Ryan told NBC’s Peter King at the time that he requested a trade out of Atlanta because of the Falcons’ failed pursuit of Deshaun Watson — a move that would have unceremoniously bumped him from his starting job.
“It became clear when Deshaun did not come, it was on me to let them know that I wanted to seek other options,” Ryan told King. “I told Arthur Blank that, and he was great about it. The first one I wanted to explore was Indianapolis.”
The Falcons and Ryan quickly mended fences following the move, and Atlanta inducted him into its Ring of Honor last season.