Black Monday for the NFL is in full swing. The Atlanta Falcons got a head start, however, by firing head coach Raheem Morris and general manager Terry Fontenot just hours after the team beat the New Orleans Saints, 19-17, at home in Week 18.
There was another casualty for the Falcons on Black Monday as well: longtime CEO Rich McKay. Atlanta will now add a president of football operations position, a role expected to be filled by former quarterback Matt Ryan.
Ryan has been speculated as a front-office candidate for weeks. The job, as SI’s Albert Breer explained, is expected to mirror the structure of Chris Spielman’s role with the Detroit Lions.
It would be a significant position, with final decisions on the team’s next head coach and general manager expected to funnel through Ryan, albeit with final authority remaining with owner Arthur Blank.
Ryan, of course, would first need to officially sign on. But he may have one condition before doing so, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
Matt Ryan Wants to Hold Down Two Jobs
Matt Ryan never officially retired from the NFL. After the 2022 season with the Indianapolis Colts, however, he signed with CBS as an analyst, a role he has held ever since — and one he reportedly wants to keep.
Ryan is hoping to retain his CBS position while also taking on his new front-office role with the Falcons, according to Pelissero. The arrangement would be similar to Tom Brady’s role with Fox alongside his minority ownership stake with the Las Vegas Raiders.
There has been no indication yet whether that would present a conflict with either Falcons ownership or the league office. But if Brady was able to navigate it, the expectation is that Ryan would be cleared as well.
“My understanding is Matt Ryan’s voice is already ‘active’ in the Falcons building, per league source,” NFL insider Josina Anderson said.
Matt Ryan Said to Be Reviewing Head Coach Candidates
Despite not yet being officially named to the position, Ryan is already believed to be doing homework on potential head coaching candidates.
That makes Guardian US reporter Ollie Connolly’s report even more intriguing, as he suggested Atlanta may already have its next coach lined up.
“Falcons expected to interview a bunch of candidates. But belief among coaches who’ve back-channeled is that they’ve already picked their guy,” Connolly said.
Connolly listed several names to monitor, including Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur, Miami Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel, former Cleveland Browns coach Kevin Stefanski and Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur. He also mentioned Chicago Bears assistant general manager Ian Cunningham as a possible candidate for the Falcons’ GM opening.
Teams are permitted to request interviews beginning three days after the regular season ends. Coaches from teams not participating in the wild-card round can be interviewed starting January 6, while in-person interviews for employed candidates are not permitted until January 19.
It’s tough to say which direction the Falcons are leaning towards right now, especially with Ryan’s reported involvement. But one thing is for sure — it’s a new era in Atlanta.
Matt Ryan’s Falcons Return Could Come With a Tom Brady-Like Twist