Matt Ryan was the franchise quarterback of the Atlanta Falcons from the moment they drafted him No. 3 overall in 2008 until he was traded to the Indianapolis Colts in March 2022.
Now, Desmond Ridder will have the opportunity to prove he’s worthy of being the QB the Falcons can rest their hopes on. Ridder was a third-round pick out of Cincinnati last year and spent most of his rookie season as Marcus Mariota’s backup before making four starts late in the year.
According to Josh Kendall of The Athletic, Ryan delivered a supportive message to Ridder during his visit to the Falcons’ team facility last week.
“I’m here for you if you need me. Anything you need, don’t hesitate to reach out,” Ryan told the young quarterback.
During his visit to Flowery Branch last week, Matt Ryan told Desmond Ridder “I’m here for you if you need me. Anything you need, don’t hesitate to reach out.”
— Josh Kendall (@JoshTheAthletic) August 7, 2023
The Falcons clearly have some belief in Ridder, but if he falters this season, it wouldn’t be a shock to see the team quickly pivot to other options in 2024.
No matter how Ridder’s career in Atlanta turns out, it’s good to see Ryan has his back as he prepares to be a full-time starter.
In his four starts in 2022, Ridder completed 63.5% of his passes for 708 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions while also rushing for 64 yards on 16 carries.