Matt Ryan opens up about disastrous tenure with Indianapolis Colts
Former Atlanta Falcons and Indianapolis Colts quarterback Matt Ryan is preparing for his new role as an analyst for CBS Sports, but if the 2022 season was his last year in the NFL, it was complete chaos.
After spending 14 seasons with the Falcons, which included an MVP award in 2016 and a Super Bowl appearance, Ryan was traded to the Colts for a third-round draft pick. Ryan told The Athletic he was "surprised" by the trade since he had been preparing for another season in Atlanta, but "things kind of escalated quickly within one week and the entire dynamic changed.
"That part was hard, there’s no doubt about it because for 14 years every morning I woke up, I knew exactly what was expected of me. When that changes, that part was difficult, but you get thrust in through a new situation so quickly," Ryan said.
Ryan's lone season with the Colts turned out to not be a good one; he threw for 3,057 yards, 14 touchdowns and 13 interceptions in 12 games while being sacked 38 times, as he was benched twice during the season and the Colts finished the regular season 4-12-1. Ryan was released by the Colts in March, capping off a disastrous tenure in Indianapolis.
"I mean, it was a (expletive) show, you know, it was a (expletive) show of 18 months basically is the best way to describe it," Ryan said. "But I think everybody in our family handled it well and came out of it stronger and in a really good spot."
Ryan also added he is staying in shape in case an NFL team wants to sign him, keeping the door open for a football return. He said his first game with CBS Sports will be the Week 1 matchup between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Minnesota Vikings.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Matt Ryan opens up about disastrous tenure as Indianapolis Colts QB
