FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — As he has every Sunday throughout the 2025 season, Matt Ryan sat at a desk in CBS Studios as an analyst on NFL Today breaking down the impending wild-card matchup between the Jacksonville Jaguars and Buffalo Bills.
This time, however, was different as it marks the final time he'll sit at that desk in that analyst role seeing as he was introduced publicly — for the first time — as the Atlanta Falcons president of football by his CBS colleagues.
Right off the bat, former Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Bill Cowher hit him with a question.
"So, we sit here next year and get to watch your team," Cowher began, "when I define and when I have to sit here and talk about what I see in Atlanta Falcons football, what words should be coming out of my mouth?"
Ryan gave his answer in stride. In essence, Ryan says, the fact Cowher is talking about the Falcons in the first place is a step in the right direction.
"The good part is that we're coming out of your mouth and we're talking about them at this time of the year," Ryan said. "I think that is the vision for where we want to be. You want to be in the mix, in the playoffs and it has been too long there. We're going to work really hard and find the right people to get us back into that position to be successful."
The former MVP continued, setting the expectation for where the Falcons find themselves right now, which is in the midst of head coach and general manager search Ryan is leading. Already, the Falcons have completed three interviews for the head coach position.
"You guys know it: Football, it's about the people," Ryan said. "The building is about the people, and there are a lot of really good people in that building that are already there. It starts at the top with Arthur Blank and I am fortunate to be in this position, excited about the opportunity and ready to get started."
Ryan will make his way back to Atlanta very soon with a press conference scheduled for Tuesday at 11 a.m. ET with owner Arthur Blank and president and CEO Greg Beadles.
