Why now Falcons retired QB Matt Ryan won’t be in NFL Hall of Fame

Matt Ryan’s legacy is with the Falcons revival

Minus his short stint with the Indianapolis Colts for two seasons, Matt Ryan’s legacy in the NFL is mainly connected with the Falcons, a team he not only led on the field but also helped resurrect from the depths of despair on his arrival.

Ryan’s career began just shortly after the Falcons had been rocked by the fallout from former quarterback Michael Vick who was involved in a dogfighting scandal. Vick, the former No. 1 overall pick in the 2001 NFL Draft who was originally the quarterback hope for the Falcons, was sentenced to jail, leaving the team in massive disarray.

Ryan, drafted as the No. 3 overall pick in 2008, quickly became the new beacon of hope that the franchise needed. In his very first career start against the Detroit Lions, he made an immediate impact, connecting with wide receiver Michael Jenkins on a 64-yard touchdown pass strike that signaled a new era for the Falcons. From that point forward, Ryan’s leadership and playing skills were instrumental in turning around the fortunes of the team, which had been in the doldrums following Vick’s departure. In his 14 years in Atlanta, Ryan led the Falcons to three NFC South division titles and five playoff appearances.

Matt Ryan, Falcons Super Bowl LI loss will forever linger

Despite his individual accolades, where he ranks seventh all-time in NFL history in regular-season passing yards with 62,792 and ninth all-time in passing touchdowns with 381, including an MVP season in 2016 where he was considered the best player in the league, Ryan’s career could be considered good more than great. His playoff record of 4-6, while respectable, is not exceptional. Moreover, the infamous Super Bowl LI collapse against the New England Patriots, where the Falcons blew a 28-3 lead, missing out on giving the franchise their very first championship, remains a dark cloud over his career.

However, Ryan’s impact on the Falcons cannot be overstated. He is perhaps the greatest Atlanta Falcon of all time, not just for his on-field performance but also for what he symbolizes to the franchise. Ryan brought the team out of the wilderness and onto the very cusp of the promised land, that being, of course, their first Super Bowl victory, an achievement that would have more than likely cemented his legacy in NFL history for sure. But without it, it leaves Ryan’s candidacy clouded with uncertainty.

Will Matt Ryan’s career numbers be enough for the Hall of Fame?

In the end, Matt Ryan’s legacy will have to be defined by more than just his numbers. Does he have them? Yes, but maybe not enough to put him over the threshold to warrant an induction. For Ryan, he will have to be remembered for more. It should be as the quarterback who brought hope back to Atlanta, who led his team through immense adversity in one of its darkest times. But what often time gets remembered is him and the Falcons falling agonizingly short of reaching the pinnacle of NFL success.

“The numbers speak for themselves,” Ryan told Ari Meirov of The 33rd Team. “The consistency speaks for itself. I hope it’s something that happens one day.”

Whether or not he ultimately receives the honor of being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, his impact on the Falcons should not soon be forgotten. However, his impact on the league overall remains in question, and that’s what separates the Hall of Famers from non-Hall of Famers.