Falcons hire Matt Ryan as new president of football: 'This is not a new table; it's just a new seat'
The legendary QB is expected to oversee the hiring of Atlanta's new coach and GM after Raheem Morris and Terry Fontenot were fired.
The Athletic has live coverage of Rams vs. Panthers from the NFL playoffs wild-card round.
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.