Falcon Report

Should Falcons Retire Matt Ryan No. 2, Make NFL History?

If the Atlanta Falcons retire former quarterback Matt Ryan's number, it would become the first No. 2 hung in the rafters in NFL history.

Riley Sheppard

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There is a short list of players that come to mind for the greatest Atlanta Falcons player of all-time.

Michael Vick, Julio Jones and Matt Ryan.  

However, with Atlanta only having one current retired jersey (Tommy Nobis, No. 60) there's a chance none will see their jersey hanging in the rafters. 

But the fact is, there may never be a Falcons player as impactful as Ryan for the longevity of his tenure. Before spending last season with the Indianapolis Colts, Ryan played 14 seasons for the Falcons after being selected by the franchise with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2008 NFL Draft.

After being given the keys from the beginning - starting all 16 games as a rookie - Ryan played 234 career games (all starts), totaling a 124-109-1 record while only missing three games over that span. 

Along with Ryan getting his jersey retired being a special moment for the franchise, this could be a special moment for the NFL as well. If Atlanta hangs up Ryan's number, it would become the first team to retire a No. 2.

On top of his outstanding durability, Ryan also led Atlanta to only its second Super Bowl appearance (2016), was named the franchises only MVP in the same year and is currently ranked as the all-time leader in passing yards.  

There is no doubt that Ryan will find himself in the team's "Ring of Honor" once he officially retires, but whether or not a Falcons player can ever wear his iconic No. 2 is still up in the air. 

Follow Riley Sheppard on Twitter @RileyDSheppard.

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Riley Sheppard
RILEY SHEPPARD

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