{"id":667944,"date":"2026-01-11T05:01:25","date_gmt":"2026-01-11T05:01:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/667944\/"},"modified":"2026-01-11T05:01:25","modified_gmt":"2026-01-11T05:01:25","slug":"falcons-hire-matt-ryan-as-new-president-of-football-this-is-not-a-new-table-its-just-a-new-seat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/667944\/","title":{"rendered":"Falcons hire Matt Ryan as new president of football: \u2018This is not a new table; it\u2019s just a new seat\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Athletic has live coverage of Rams vs. Panthers<\/a> from the NFL playoffs wild-card round.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\u201cThroughout his remarkable 14-year career in Atlanta, Matt\u2019s leadership, attention to detail, knowledge of the game and unrelenting drive to win made him the most successful player in our franchise\u2019s history,\u201d Blank said in a statement released shortly after Ryan formally accepted the job Saturday morning.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am confident those same qualities will be a tremendous benefit to our organization as he steps into this new role. \u2026 I have full confidence and trust in Matt as we strive to deliver a championship caliber team for Atlanta and Falcons fans everywhere.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ryan, 40, will complete his duties with CBS during the league\u2019s wild-card weekend and then will turn his attention fully to the Falcons\u2019 job. He will make a final appearance on Sunday\u2019s episode of \u201cThe NFL Today,\u201d a CBS Sports spokesperson told The Athletic.<\/p>\n

CBS Sports president and CEO David Berson thanked Ryan for his work with the network and said he knows Ryan will \u201cbring the same level of excellence\u201d to his new role as Ryan did as a quarterback and TV analyst.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know first-hand what a great foundation this organization has and I\u2019m confident we can build on that and cement a culture of accountability, tenacity, resilience and winning,\u201d Ryan said in the team\u2019s statement. \u201cSetting 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 \u2014 these are all priorities and principles I will bring to this role.\u201d<\/p>\n

Leading Atlanta pic.twitter.com\/EECcmfVhK1<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) January 10, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

The Athletic\u2019s Dianna Russini reported Saturday that the team also will consider all four for their vacant GM position. Cunningham \u2014 who works under Chicago general manager Ryan Poles, who was Ryan\u2019s teammate at Boston College and remains a close confidant \u2014 is considered one of the favorites for that position.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Once those hires are complete, both positions will report directly to Ryan, and he will have the final say on all of Atlanta\u2019s football decisions, according to Blank.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy history with this team speaks for itself, and I\u2019m really grateful for it, and the great relationship I\u2019ve been lucky to have with Arthur and his family,\u201d Ryan said via the team\u2019s statement. \u201cI also recognize this side of football is not where I\u2019ve come up. I\u2019ve played, I\u2019ve commented, but I haven\u2019t directly operated. I think I\u2019m humble enough to recognize there will be some baptism by fire, but I\u2019m ready for that. \u2026 I do understand the weight of a role like this \u2014 I\u2019ve lived it.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have confidence in the perspective my years as a player and a team leader give me. This is not a new table; it\u2019s just a new seat.\u201d<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

He is the franchise\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

Ryan told NBC\u2019s Peter King at the time that he requested a trade out of Atlanta because of the Falcons\u2019 failed pursuit of Deshaun Watson \u2014 a move that would have unceremoniously bumped him from his starting job.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt became clear when Deshaun did not come, it was on me to let them know that I wanted to seek other options,\u201d Ryan told King. \u201cI told Arthur Blank that, and he was great about it. The first one I wanted to explore was Indianapolis.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Falcons and Ryan quickly mended fences following the move, and Atlanta inducted him into its Ring of Honor last season.<\/p>\n