Falcons president of football Matt Ryan speaks to rookie class

The Atlanta Falcons have their eyes on a brighter future, but it won't come easy. That's why team owner Arthur Blank made the move to bring in franchise legend Matt Ryan as the Falcons' new president of football. The former No.

3 pick spent 14 seasons in Atlanta and knows what to takes to lead a team. Ryan may lack the traditional front office experience of someone in his position, but he has a wealth of knowledge from his playing days that will be beneficial to this organization in a number of ways. One of those ways is by connecting with the players on a level that most front office people wouldn't understand.

The Falcons let Ryan speak with the team's rookie class at OTAs this week. "I've literally sat in your seat and I've been in your guys' shoes," Ryan told Atlanta's 2026 NFL Draft class. "So I know how you're feeling.

I understand the excitement. I understand it can be overwhelming. There's nervousness.