Falcons Rookie Desmond Ridder Compared to Super Bowl Winning QB

The third-round pick is looking to make history in Atlanta.

Jeremy Brener | May 23, 2022

This summer, Atlanta Falcons quarterback Desmond Ridder will look to become the first rookie third-round pick to win his team's starting job in a decade.

The last quarterback to accomplish that feat? Super Bowl winning quarterback Russell Wilson.

Desmond Ridder

Wilson, who was recently traded to the Denver Broncos earlier this offseason, spent 10 seasons with the Seattle Seahawks and led his team to victory in Super Bowl XLVIII.

Wilson has also made the Pro Bowl in nine of his first 10 seasons in the NFL, so if Ridder can follow that career path, Atlanta will be in good shape.

At rookie minicamp last week, FOX 5 said that Ridder was giving "Russell Wilson vibes."

Ridder threw for 10,239 yards and 87 TDs while also rushing for 2,169 yards and 28 touchdowns in his time at Cincinnati. He also proved himself to be one of the greatest winners in NCAA history, going 44-6 during his time as the Bearcats' starter.

Wilson posted similar numbers in college, throwing for 11,720 yards and 109 touchdowns, while also adding 1,427 yards on the ground with 23 rushing scores.

Desmond Ridder

While Ridder and Wilson entered similar positions in their rookie seasons, the primary difference comes on defense. The Seahawks boasted one of the best defenses in the NFL when Wilson came into the league, while the Falcons are closer to the other end of the spectrum. The Falcons posted a league-worst 18 sacks in 2021.

While the Falcons have addressed the pass rush this offseason, there's still a ways to go before the team can be on a contending level.

But the biggest key to a rebuild is finding a franchise quarterback, and if Ridder can mirror Wilson's career, the Falcons will have their biggest to do checked of their list.

Published May 23, 2022

JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.