Chiefs Super Bowl QB Chad Henne on Falcons Drafting Matt Ryan: 'Not a Bad Decision'
The NFL season is set to come to a close Sunday night in Glendale, Arizona with Super Bowl LVII between the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles.
And as the rosters stand, there are no former Atlanta Falcons players on either roster - but there nearly was.
Chiefs backup quarterback Chad Henne, who played a key part in the team's divisional round victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars after MVP signal caller Patrick Mahomes left with a high ankle sprain, was considered one of the top quarterbacks in the 2008 NFL Draft ... behind Matt Ryan.
Of course, as things played out, the Falcons selected Ryan at No. 3 overall and he broke many franchise records, but had they instead opted to fill a need at left tackle, Atlanta likely would have taken Henne thereafter, per the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
“(Offensive coordinator) Mike Mularkey and (coach) Mike Smith came to Michigan and worked me out,” Henne told the AJC. “I had a great meeting with them. They really dove into what I liked or how I would play as quarterback and how I would fit their system. Had a great workout."
Henne, who was later drafted No. 57 overall by the Miami Dolphins, has started 54 games across his 78-game, 15-year career, holding a record of 18-36 while completing just under 60 percent of his passes for 13,290 yards, 60 touchdowns and 63 interceptions.
While the numbers don't necessarily pop, Henne's carved out a solid career in the NFL - but even he admits the Falcons made the correct decision in selecting Ryan.
"They went with Matt, not a bad decision," Henne said. "I think he had a heck of a career and still is. I really enjoyed my time (meeting) with them.”
Henne added that he and Mularkey still talk, a notion of how well that meeting must've gone - and perhaps how close the Falcons were to missing out on Ryan's outstanding 14-year tenure under center.
But now, it's Henne who appears to have made "not a bad decision" by joining the Chiefs, as he's set to be active on Sunday with a chance to get his second Super Bowl while Ryan, the Falcons and the rest of the league watch on.
Kickoff between Kansas City and Philadelphia set for 6:30 p.m. (ET) inside State Farm Stadium.
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