Matt Ryan May Have Had An NFL Career in Atlanta. But He’ll Always Be A Kid From Philly.
Five months ago, in April of 2024 — Matt Ryan stepped to the podium shrouded in front of the Atlanta Falcons logo backdrop and announced his retirement. Ryan had last played in the NFL in 2022, but as an NFL quarterback he’ll always be a Falcon.
Today, Matt Ryan’s game day preparation doesn’t include a restrictive diet or warming up on the field hours before kickoff. Now, his preparation is research in preparation for the broadcast booth.
Matt Ryan’s career had one ultimate goal. It was a goal shared not only by his teammates, but also by every other NFL player to dawn that professional uniform. Very few NFL players find themselves on the brink of a championship, up 28–3 in the Super Bowl. That’s because no one has lost a lead of that size in a Super Bowl ever, and lost 34–28 in overtime.
The following year, in order to get back to that marquee NFL game — Ryan would have to come though the NFL’s #1 seed in the Eagles.
It couldn’t be more fitting. Matt Ryan was Philly kid, who grew up loving the Phillies and Eagles.
Born in Exton, in three years as a starter at William Penn Charter High School, his accolades include All-Southeastern Pennsylvania as a senior. His senior stats included 2,000 yards and 19 scores. He was a three-team captain in baseball, basketball, and football in high school.
When Matty Ice stood facing the end zone at Lincoln Financial Field in January of 2018, attempting to drive the Falcons down to win the game late in the fourth quarter down 15–10, only to see a last-minute pass fall incomplete and finding himself amid a celebration of Eagles fans.
One month later, when he sat at home and saw his Eagles win the franchises first Super Bowl — one has to wonder if he was just a happy.
Perhaps just a little bit.
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