The former Falcons QB Matt Ryan is not shy to label the last 18 months in Atlanta with a word that rhymes with ‘HIT’ but is laced rather more profanely.
Ryan plied his trade for the Falcons for 14 years, after being picked as third overall pick in the first round in 2008, and he thought he would end his career at the same franchise.
But in a surprise move, the Falcons ended up trading Ryan to the Colts at start of the 2022 season. Ryan described the final 18 months of his career as a “s*** show.
Ryan was a legend at the Falcons holding the franchise record in passing yards, passing touchdowns, passer rating, wins, attempts and competition. He has passed over 62,792 yards, with a complete percentage of 65.6%.
He may have been just past the peak of his 2016-2019 form, but the trade was still a massive surprise.
And THAT season he went to the Colts will be remembered for all the wrong reasons. He did pass Dan Merino to go to seventh on all-time passing list, but completed a career low 14 touchdowns, and being on the wrong end of one of the greatest comebacks in NFL history.
The Colts led 33-0 at halftime but lost to the Vikings 39-36 in overtime.
This loss was the beginning of the end for Ryan, and he lost his starting berth. That was the second time the Falcons legend had been benched that season, going 4-12-1 in a season he would sooner like to forget,
Now a burgeoning CBS analyst, Ryan has not ruled out a comeback. But then after his last season at the Colts, he may well already know his throwing days are behind him.
