Matt Ryan of the Atlanta Falcons will already be 37 years old in the upcoming NFL season. Team owner Arthur Blank expects the quarterback to continue playing, but is already thinking about the future at the playmaker position.

Munich/Atlanta – Tom Brady has retired, the future of Aaron Rodgers is uncertain. Matt Ryan of the Atlanta Falcons is another quarterback of the old guard whose career end might be foreseeable.

Team owner Arthur Blank knows that too: “At some point he will ride off into the sunset. But when exactly that will be, I really can’t say because I just don’t know.”

Matt Ryan has been playing in the NFL since 2008 and has played exclusively for the Falcons. He celebrates his 37th birthday in May. His contract still runs for two years. However, there is supposed to be an opt-out this year.

Blank makes clear: “Ryan wants to stay here “

Blank remains relaxed: “Ryan loves the game. He loves the Falcons. He loves the city and he wants to stay here.”

How the team plans at the quarterback position, he said, is in the hands of Terry Fontenot and Arthur Smith. “That’s a decision that the coach and the general manager make. But we have no reason to believe he won’t continue to play quarterback for us.”

Blank did not know if Ryan had a specific plan for when his career would end, he said. Regardless, though, he said it’s clear the Falcons will have to decide on a successor at some point.

Atlanta already had the option of selecting young quarterbacks Justin Fields or Mac Jones in the 2021 NFL Draft. Instead, tight end Kyle Pitts was drafted with the No. 4 pick.

“Great teams have a successful transition from one quarterback to the next,” Blank said. “We want to make sure we do the same. The coach and the general manager know that.”

So it’s quite possible the Falcons will be looking very closely at quarterbacks in the 2022 NFL Draft.