Matt Ryan has been an accomplished and talented player in the NFL since 2008, but where did he grow up?
Matt Ryan was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and grew up around the state and city. He would stay local until going off to college in Massachusetts, before moving to Atlanta to start his career with the NFL.
Read on to learn more about Matt Ryan’s impressive sporting career and early life growing up.
Go Long!
Like many accomplished athletes, Matt Ryan has dedicated almost his entire life to sports. He began playing football way back when he was a young child, and fell in love with the activity. As a child, and teenager, Ryan became something of a prodigy, quickly becoming recognized for his talent.
His opportunity-laden upbringing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania gave him a great start. He was lucky enough to attend a brilliant high school that nurtured his sporting desires.
In high school, Ryan played as a quarterback, developing his abilities in the role. However, he wasn’t satisfied just playing football. While in school, he also played basketball and baseball. His sporting acumen was so great that he’d be named captains of all three school teams.
In his senior year, in 2002, he was wrapped up in nothing but sports. It wouldn’t be long before the offers for scholarships came rolling in. As the year rolled on, he zeroed in on his college of choice, settling with Boston College. He’d made his decision based on their formula: a firm football program and keen focus on academics.
Although he’d come across on a scholarship, it would be two years before he made his official debut. In October 2004, he played his first match for Boston College, and enjoyed a successful opening act. His first official start was just one month later, in the season’s final match.
His college football career would continue in earnest, with Ryan gathering a fanbase and furthering his skill. He became known as a brilliant player, adept on the field. He received a string of awards for his college football career, amassing thirteen accolades in just three years.
In The Draft
Matt Ryan would rocket to fame and fortune in 2008, with his inclusion in the draft. He was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons as a starting quarterback. The contract he signed with them was massive, and secured him a guaranteed thirty-five million dollars.
In fact, the contract effectively made Ryan the fourth highest-paid quarterback behind the likes of Peyton Manning. This was almost a bizarre concept, given that he had never played a full, professional NFL match. His college career was enough to have secured him a prestigious role, with an enormous salary.
He would eventually go on to be – at one point – the highest paid player in the NFL.
As he played for the Atlanta Falcons, Ryan signed some high-tier endorsement deals. He worked with companies such as Nike, a deal which generated a lot of income for the already-accomplished player.
He would climb the ranks exponentially, and in 2016 was named MVP of the season. This is one of the most prestigious accolades an NFL player can earn, standing them apart from every other player in the league. You can see a great video on YouTube below, showing a compilation of Matt Ryan’s best plays in the 2017 – 2018 season.
Ryan would continue playing in the NFL for a considerable amount of time. He remained true to the Falcons, and by 2020 was still an active player on their roster. He’d become massively and widely recognized for his time on the pitch, also. In twelve years with the team, Ryan won an incredible twenty-four awards, with no sign of slowing down.
All-in-all, the success was staggering. By 2020, Matt Ryan would boast a massive net worth, of around seventy million dollars. He lived in a huge property in Atlanta, and still had plenty of drive left in him to achieve more.