Former NFL MVP Matt Ryan Says He Believes He Had Hall of Fame-Worthy Career

Former MVP-winning quarterback Matt Ryan believed that his career warrants Pro Football Hall of Fame consideration when asked about the topic.

"I do," said Ryan, who served as an analyst for CBS Sports during the 2023 season. "... The numbers speak for themselves. The consistency speaks for itself. I hope it's something that happens one day."

The 38-year-old last played in the NFL during the 2022 season with the Indianapolis Colts, although his most notable moments came during his 14 years with the Atlanta Falcons. Ryan excelled immediately after he was selected with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2008 NFL draft, winning the Offensive Rookie of the Year award.

He was named to the Pro Bowl four times, tossing at least 20 touchdowns in each of the 13 seasons following his impressive rookie year with the Falcons. His crowning achievement occurred in 2016, when he was named the league's Most Valuable Player.

During that year, Ryan completed 69.9 percent of his passes for 4,944 yards and 38 touchdowns compared to just seven interceptions. He helped lead the Falcons to the Super Bowl before a disastrous collapse at the hands of the New England Patriots prevented Atlanta from hoisting its first Lombardi Trophy.

Still, Ryan's consistency throughout his time as a Falcon allowed him to rise on the NFL's career passing leaderboards. His 62,792 yards and 381 touchdowns through the air rank No. 7 and No. 9 on the league's all-time lists, respectively.

It's worth noting that every quarterback ranked higher than Ryan on both leaderboards is either in the Hall of Fame or isn't eligible for selection yet due to a recent retirement.