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After 14 seasons with the Atlanta Falcons and one with the Indianapolis Colts, quarterback Matt Ryan turned away teams that called him in 2023 even though he hasn’t officially announced his retirement.
Which means that (a) Matt Ryan could be back in uniform in 2024, or (b) the clock could start ticking towards the day that he becomes eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Thursday night during the NFL Honors in Las Vegas, the Pro Football Hall of Fame announced who will be its newest inductees: Dwight Freeney, Devin Hester, Andre Johnson, Randy Gradishar, Patrick Willis, Steve McMichael, and Julius Peppers.
When Matt Ryan, now 38, finally does announce his retirement, will he hear his name called five years later?
That was the question that was posed to him by Ari Meirov of The 33rd Team this week.
His answer?
“I do,” he replied. “The consistency that we had for a long time, and the production that we had in Atlanta, I think speaks to it.
“I understand that championships go a long way at the quarterback position, but I think the numbers speak for themselves. The consistency speaks for itself.
“I hope it’s something that happens one day. I’m proud of what I’ve done as a player and we’ll see what it happens.”
I asked Matt Ryan if he should be a Hall of Famer: "I do. … The numbers speak for themselves. The consistency speaks for itself. I hope it's something that happens one day."
Full interview coming on @The33rdTeamFB.pic.twitter.com/6613zJnhj0
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) February 8, 2024
Matt Ryan was the NFL Most Valuable Player in 2016, made it to one Super Bowl, passed for 62,792 yards, had a 65.6 completion percentage, threw for 381 touchdowns with 183 interceptions, and had a 124-109-1 record as a starter.
Pro Football Reference lists his career comparables as being: Dan Marino, John Elway, Philip Rivers, Fran Tarkenton, Aaron Rodgers, Brett Favre, Joe Montana, Eli Manning, Russell Wilson, and Ken Anderson.
Marino, Elway, Tarkenton, Favre, and Montana are already in the Hall of Fame, while Rivers and Rodgers are expected to get in at some point.
Manning (57,023 yards, 60.3%, 366 TD, 244 INT, 117-117-0 record) becomes eligible in 2025 and if he does get voted into the Hall of Fame, then Ryan should become a lock.