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Why did Matt Ryan leave the Atlanta Falcons?

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Matt Ryan says he believes he would still be with the Atlanta Falcons if the team had not pursued Deshaun Watson.

Gidget Alikpala
Update:
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Matt Ryan says he believes he would still be with the Atlanta Falcons if the team had not pursued Deshaun Watson.
Todd KirklandGetty Images

Quarterback Matt Ryan has begun his stint with the Indianapolis Colts, but he says he believes he would still be with the Atlanta Falcons if the team had not explored the possibility of acquiring Deshaun Watson in the offseason.

Atlanta had reportedly been in talks with Watson before the Cleveland Browns offered the former Houston Texans signal-caller a mammoth deal, which gives him $230 million in fully guaranteed money.

Atlanta’s talks with Watson kickstarted Ryan trade

Although the Falcons failed to obtain Watson- who is still facing charges of sexual misconduct- the talks between the two parties served as a catalyst for Ryan’s move to the Colts.

Speaking on The Ryen Russillo podcast, Ryan said that he began to look into other opportunities when he learned of his team’s efforts to get another quarterback.

“I kind of got filled in to the loop that they were gonna look into Deshaun Watson. At that point I said, ‘Okay, I understand’, you know, but I also need to look into what I need to look into, and if this doesn’t go down, find out if this is probably still the best fit for me,” said the 36-year-old.

Ryan expected to be a life-long Falcon

Ryan has spent all 14 seasons of his NFL career with the Falcons, and he said he had expected to be staying with team until he retired.

“You know, had none of this gone down, there’s probably a chance, a pretty good chance. But it did, you know, and so when it does, when the situation is changed, when the circumstances change, you know, I had always thought- like everybody- when you’re drafted there and you play there, this is where I’m going to play my entire career,” according to Ryan.

The Falcons are still dealing with their quarterback situation after Ryan’s departure, while the Indianapolis Colts are hoping for a real shot at the Super Bowl with the acquisition of the veteran.