Matt Ryan Sends Message to Teams: ‘You Know My Number’

The quarterback started 12 games for the Colts last year, and enters this season as an analyst for CBS.

As Matt Ryan prepares for his first season as a broadcaster, the former league MVP let it be known that he’s not quite ready to shut the door completely on his playing career.

Ryan, who started 12 games for the Colts last season following a successful 14-year run with the Falcons, told The Athletic‘s Josh Kendall on Monday that he’s still staying in playing shape in case the phone rings with another NFL opportunity, even as he gets ready for his new role as a CBS analyst.

“I’m staying in shape. I think it is kind of, ‘You know my number. You know where I’m at,’” Ryan said. “If anything were to come up, you know, we’ll see. [CBS] is where my focus is at right now. But we’ll see how the season shakes out.”

Ryan will team with Andrew Catalon and Tiki Barber on games this season, with the Buccaneers-Vikings Week 1 matchup serving as his first assignment.

Ryan’s career peaked in 2016 with Atlanta when he threw a career-best 38 touchdown passes and led the league in passer rating en route to winning the MVP award. He guided the Falcons to their second Super Bowl in franchise history.

Atlanta traded Ryan to the Colts in March 2022. In 12 starts, he threw for 3,057 yards, 14 touchdowns and 13 interceptions, with the team posting a 4-7-1 record in games he appeared in.