Matt Ryan’s future with the Indianapolis Colts is in limbo but many feel that the veteran quarterback is ready for the next chapter of his career.
This past season didn’t unfold for Matt Ryan as everyone imagined. When the Indianapolis Colts traded for the veteran quarterback last offseason, the majority of people applauded the move and argued that Ryan and Indy were the perfect partners for each other entering the 2022 season. As we now know, that couldn’t have been further from the truth. Ryan had his worst season as a professional and was benched twice as the Colts finished with a 4-12-1 record.
Now, with one season remaining on his contract, it’s unclear what the future holds for Matt Ryan. Will Indy find a trade partner for the soon-to-be 38-year-old quarterback or will they just release him and take the cap hit? Maybe the Colts keep Ryan around as a mentor for the rookie quarterback that they’re likely to select in the 2023 NFL Draft. While that all remains a mystery, the NFL world got a glimpse at what could be the next chapter in Ryan’s career.
On Sunday, Ryan joined CBS’s in-studio crew as an analyst on the pregame show, and viewers loved his appearance. Several people expressed that Ryan was smooth, knowledgeable, and natural, and argued that Matt Ryan would be a great addition to television once he’s officially done s a player. How soon will that be though?
Matt is one of the most unflappable athletes I’ve dealt with in interviews. No matter how smart you think you are, he is always in control. You absolutely cannot get him to say what he doesn’t want to. That kind of savvy suggests he’d be good on TV.
— Stephen Holder (@HolderStephen) January 22, 2023
Will Matt Ryan leave the Colts for television?
The majority of people would probably suggest to Ryan that he should make the jump right now, however, it’s unlikely that actually happens based on Ryan’s exit interviews for the season. When Ryan was last in the facility talking to the media, he expressed that retirement wasn’t on his mind and that he still feels he has a lot to offer. Obviously, those feelings can change as Ryan gets deeper into the offseason.
Even bigger than Ryan’s feelings is the feelings of all 32 teams in the NFL. It would be great if every player got to retire on their own terms but that’s rarely the case. Ryan’s market could decide his next step more than anything. Coming off a season where he played in 12 games and completed 67% of his passes for 3,057 yards, 14 touchdowns, 13 interceptions, and 15 fumbles, teams won’t be necessarily blowing up Indy’s phones to try and acquire Ryan.
If the Colts decide to move on from him, and no other team is willing to give Ryan another chance, he may be forced to retire and make his transition to television. If that happens, Indianapolis would probably be hoping that decision comes before March 17 because it would help the team financially. However, that’s exactly why it probably won’t, at least on Ryan’s end. Ryan knows that waiting until after March 17 guarantees him at least $17 million, and he’s unlikely to leave money on the table.
However the situation unfolds, it’s one of the many tasks on Indy’s offseason list of responsibilities. Chris Ballard has already said that hiring a coach is the team’s first priority, then they will decide on how to handle the Ryan situation. Whatever the outcome is, expect to still see Matt Ryan on television in some capacity.
3 edge rushers the Colts could sign to replace Yannick Ngakoue if he leaves
The Indianapolis Colts could be looking at a new roster next year if players decide to leave with the changing of the guard in the coaching staff.