Philip Rivers’ surprising return with the Indianapolis Colts has reopened the debate about whether other retired players could follow the same path, and the name of former quarterback Matt Ryan has quickly surfaced as a possible candidate to return to the field.
Rivers played last Sunday for the first time after five years in retirement. His performance was modest, as he completed 18 of 27 passes for 120 yards against the Seattle Seahawks in an 18-16 loss.
Despite the defeat, Indianapolis head coach Shane Steichen confirmed that Philip Rivers will remain the starting quarterback for Week 16 on Monday Night Football, when the Colts face the San Francisco 49ers.
That decision has once again put the spotlight on Matt Ryan, whom some believe could come out of retirement following a workout session he had with Matthew Stafford last summer.
Could Matt Ryan come out of retirement?
Matt Ryan officially announced his retirement in April 2024, signing a one-day contract to retire as a member of the Atlanta Falcons, the franchise with which he spent 14 seasons. The most notable year of his career came in 2016, when he won the Super Bowl.
The former quarterback is now working as a sports analyst, but many believe he still has the talent to continue playing, much like Rivers has done. However, Ryan himself has already addressed the speculation, including the suggestion that he could have been the one playing for the Colts instead of Rivers.
“No, they didn’t call me. They must have heard about that workout I had with Matthew Stafford during the summer and said, ‘We’re good. We’re done.’ If you can’t make it through that, you can’t make it through a game,” said the former Indianapolis quarterback.
Although Ryan admitted that at one point he was open to exploring a potential comeback, reality hit him hard the day after his workout with Stafford.
“I woke up the next day and my arm was hanging like this,” Ryan said. “My left oblique was so sore from the amount of torque you put on it.” It was a clear reminder that no one can outrun time.
Ryan has no desire to consider a return to the field-not only because of the physical toll, but also because he believes the decision to retire came at the right moment to close a chapter he had been chasing since childhood.
“Sixteen years after being drafted, my childhood dream has officially come to an end. I’m honored to retire as a Falcon,” the former quarterback said on the day he officially ended his career, fulfilling the dream he had envisioned as a child.
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