When the Atlanta Falcons hired Matt Ryan to be their president of football, the rest of the NFL genuinely didn't know how to react. It's not particularly uncommon for teams to hire former players in high-ranking executive positions, but it's a different story when he has no front office experience.
That was the inherent risk of what the Falcons are trying to build, but he's only the lead decision-maker on paper. First-year GM Ian Cunningham and new coach Kevin Stefanski would have more autonomy over how things would play out here, and Ryan would be in an oversight capacity, essentially helping to bridge the gap between the front office and ownership.
As a former NFL MVP, we know exactly what Matty Ice can do on the field. He was a Dan Quinn collapse away from bringing this franchise its first-ever Super Bowl ring. But he's been a natural in the front office as well, because his experience is making him incredibly valuable to this new regime as a strategic sounding board, and we all know Arthur Blank trusts his football IQ.
But ask anybody around the building: Matty Ice has been everywhere. He's been showing up at practice (and has even been getting some throwing in), has been willing to help out in the meeting room, he's helped enforce the vision and this new locker room culture, and he's doing it while dedicating all of his attention to making the Falcons great again rather than not taking it seriously.
And that's essentially the main reason Atlanta looks like geniuses for hiring No. 2 over more experienced candidates, because he wants to be there day in and day out.
The rest of the NFL should be scared about what the Atlanta Falcons have in Matt Ryan
During Tuesday's episode of Pro Football Talk Live, NBC Sports' Chris Simms (and the son of former Giants great Phil Simms) spoke on exactly what makes Matt Ryan so valuable for this Falcons' front office, even saying other teams should also be scared of how dangerous a locked-in Ryan is.
"But Matt Ryan's the one I'm concerned about," Simms said. Because he's there. He's there all the time. He's getting himself fully immersed, and the concepts that make you master the quarterback position.... but it's also cerebral... Once you redirect that to another part of the sport and you go all-in with it and you're fully dedicated, and you're showing up every day. one day at a time and you're not distracted by all this other stuff. He's all-in with the Falcons."
Simms compared it to Tom Brady, who is a minority owner with the Las Vegas Raiders. While Brady is calling games for FOX and is collecting side quests they're infinity stones, he's all over the place to the point while it feels like he's spreading himself too thin and can hardly invest in what they are doing. It's all public appearances and Gucci ads and things that keep him from the facility.
For reference, Ryan was previously working for The NFL Today on CBS, but when the opportunity with the Dirty Birds came about, he opted to leave CBS and invest everything in the Falcons. As Simms mentioned, it's not like the former four-time Pro Bowler will leave the facility on a Friday, disappear for the entire weekend and come back on Monday like nothing happened.
Matt Ryan is a fan favorite and a Falcons legend or good reason, and while he's still learning the ins and outs of the president of football post, his work ethic and belief in this team is trickling down through the entire organization.
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