FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. —  At his introductory news conference new Falcons president of football Matt Ryan said his top priority is leading the search for a new coach and general manager.

The team plans to fill both positions at the same time to ensure alignment and collaboration. What Ryan doesn’t want to do is micromanage his new hires.

“I know the stressers that are put on a head coach and general manager, and the number of different directions that they’re pulled,” he said at Flowery Branch. “I view my job as taking some of those things off their plate.”

Ryan also wants to take care of what he calls unfinished business. He won the 2016 NFL MVP the same season he led the Falcons to the Super Bowl in the highlight of his 14 years as the team’s starting quarterback. He earned the nickname Matty Ice. But the Falcons never won the championship and now Ryan has a new opportunity to help the team win its first title.

The Falcons fired coach Raheem Morris and general manager Terry Fontenot after an 8-9 finish. Falcons owner Arthur Blank also made front office changes, including the creation of the president of football position.

Ryan takes over the leadership of football operations from Greg Beadles, who remains president and CEO. The new coach and general manager will report to Ryan, who Blank said will oversee “everything between football and grass.”

“We feel he’s a perfect choice,” said Blank of Ryan, adding he spoke with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell “and made him aware we were chatting with Matt. And his response was that, you know, you’re not going to find anybody better, smarter, more committed, a better human being, a better leader for the NFL and for your franchise.”

Ryan worked on the CBS pregame show on Sunday as an NFL analyst and said he hoped at this time next year the crew is discussing the Falcons in the playoffs.

“I believe there’s a lot of young, talented players on the defensive side of the ball,” Ryan said. “We’ve got some offensive linemen who are really, really solid, some of which I played with, which is kind of crazy, but really cool. I think we’ve got a special running back in Bijan (Robinson) and what he can do as a player. We’ve got some talented pieces on the outside.

“There’s a lot of good pieces that are here, but I also recognize it’s hard. I mean, it’s difficult to win in this league and it takes everyone, it takes everybody coming together and pulling their weight. And so I’m excited about what’s here. I think there are a lot of strong pieces, and certainly confident in the players that we have in our building.”

Ryan also said “I love” quarterback Michael Penix Jr., who is recovering from season-ending surgery on his left knee, and struggled even when he was healthy.

The Falcons interviewed six head coach candidates in Ryan’s first three days, including former Baltimore coach John Harbaugh and former Miami coach Mike McDaniel on Monday. Beadles said the team has only interviewed coaches, not candidates to be GM, because “there are specific windows when we can talk to coaches.”