'An Awkward Thing!' Falcons Icon Matt Ryan Reveals Take on Potential Bill Belichick Hire
The Atlanta Falcons have been searching for a franchise quarterback since Matt Ryan left town. Their unsuccessful search has the Falcons hitting the reset button at head coach and quarterback after the 2023 season.
Former New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick is certainly in the mix for the position, boasting an unmatched résumé and priming Atlanta to contend atop the NFC South. However, even the greatest to grace the headset has some questions attached to his candidacy – most prevalent being his vision for the quarterback position and who he’d hire to further that cause.
Ryan, the long-time Atlanta passer, spoke on CBS about the legitimacy of a Belichick hire and the direction of the organization.
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“Well here's the thing, there’s a lot of baggage that comes with that because of what happened in the Super Bowl,” Ryan said. “So, it’s an awkward thing.”
Of course, Belichick’s Patriots surmounted a 28-3 deficit to beat the Falcons in Super Bowl LI, scarring a fanbase – and its quarterback. Some still feel animosity toward Belichick and aren’t willing to open their arms to the head coach who has done so much damage. Atlanta hasn’t sniffed the Super Bowl since that loss.
“An owner that is getting older and is anxious to win right now, and you look at their roster … they’re built to win now, they really are,” Ryan said. “The defense plays good football, they’ve got an excellent offensive line, good skill positions, but they’ve got to figure out the quarterback.”
Thus, the Falcons have two distinct directions in which to attack the position: draft one early or make a move for an established starter. The organization’s choice could have a ripple effect throughout the offseason, particularly at head coach.
“I think Bill Belichick makes sense if they get a veteran guy,” Ryan said. “I think if you’re drafting young, I think you go with a younger coach, someone that’s going to be there longer. But if you’re going to take a veteran guy, I think he makes sense in Atlanta.”
Belichick will be 72 years old when the 2024 season kicks off, with no official word on how long he’ll continue coaching. That uncertainty lends itself to a win-now window and an attempt to find an aging signal caller, whether it be Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins, soon-to-be ex-Denver Broncos passer Russell Wilson, or another name who lands on the market.
Does Belichick want to nurture a young passer through the obstacles of development? Mediocre seasons won’t push him over the regular-season wins record, of which he needs 27. His track record with non-Tom Brady quarterbacks isn’t stellar either. The league just witnessed Mac Jones crash and burn, benched multiple times in possibly his last season in New England.
Belichick may very well be the best coach on the market. It’s hard to argue otherwise. But cramming a veteran-shaped peg into a rookie-shaped hole is a recipe for the same dysfunction and stagnation that has underlined this franchise for so long.
