Falcons Release Quarterback Marcus Mariota

The former No. 2 pick started 13 games for Atlanta last season.

The Falcons have released Marcus Mariota, the team announced Tuesday, ending the veteran quarterback’s run with the team after just one season.

Mariota signed a two-year deal with Atlanta last offseason, but the franchise will save approximately $12 million in salary cap space following his release, according to OverTheCap.com. The Falcons, who already had the second-most cap space in the league heading into free agency, will now have approximately $65 million in total cap space to use this offseason. 

Mariota, who began his career with the Titans and also had a two-year stint with the Raiders, started Atlanta’s first 13 games last season. He threw for 2,219 yards, 15 touchdowns and nine interceptions, while posting a 5–8 record, but was ultimately benched after the Falcons’ bye week for rookie quarterback Desmond Ridder.

Mariota, who was placed on injured reserve after undergoing knee surgery around the same time of his benching, reportedly left the team after his demotion. Ridder, a former college star at Cincinnati, started the last four games of the year and went 2–2 during that stretch, bringing Atlanta’s final regular season record to 7–10.