Hey there, football fans! If you’ve ever tuned into an NFL game and marveled at a quarterback who could sling the ball with pinpoint accuracy while keeping his cool under pressure, you’ve probably cheered for Matt Ryan Career Stats. Known affectionately as “Matty Ice” for his ice-cold veins in clutch moments, Ryan’s career is a story of consistency, heartbreak, and pure grit. From his rookie days turning around a struggling Atlanta Falcons franchise to his final seasons with the Indianapolis Colts, Ryan left an indelible mark on the league.
In this article, we’re breaking down his incredible journey, highlighting key stats, and even diving into a full table of his year-by-year numbers. Whether you’re a die-hard Falcons fan reliving the glory days or just curious about one of the NFL’s most underrated signal-callers, this is for you. We’ll keep it straightforward—no jargon overload—and make it fun, like chatting with a buddy over wings at a tailgate. Let’s throw it back to where it all began.
Early Life and the Road to the NFL
Matt Ryan wasn’t born with a football in his hand, but it sure felt like it. Growing up in Exton, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Philadelphia, young Matt was all about sports. He played baseball and basketball too, but football? That was his true love. By high school at William Penn Charter School, Ryan was already a standout quarterback, leading his team to back-to-back championships. Scouts took notice early—his arm strength and smarts on the field were next-level.
College brought him to Boston College, where he really started to shine. From 2003 to 2007, Ryan transformed the Eagles’ offense. As a senior in 2007, he threw for a school-record 4,507 yards and 31 touchdowns, earning the ACC Player of the Year and finishing third in Heisman voting. That year, BC went 11-3, and Ryan’s No. 12 jersey was retired in 2016—a rare honor for a living legend. Fun fact: He even launched his own website, Mattyice.com, to share highlights and stats. Talk about ahead of his time!
The 2008 NFL Draft was electric for Ryan. The Atlanta Falcons, coming off a dismal 4-12 season, snagged him third overall. It was a match made in heaven—or at least in the Georgia Dome. Atlanta needed a savior, and Ryan was ready to deliver.
Rookie Sensation: Hitting the Ground Running in Atlanta
Imagine stepping into the NFL as a rookie QB for a team that hadn’t sniffed the playoffs in years. That’s exactly what Ryan did in 2008. Under new head coach Mike Smith, he started every game, completing 61.4% of his passes for 3,426 yards, 16 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. Not bad for a guy fresh out of college! His Falcons went 11-5, snagged a playoff spot, and Ryan became the first rookie QB to lead his team to the postseason since Ben Roethlisberger in 2004.
That wild-card win over the Arizona Cardinals? Ryan threw for 199 yards, but it was his poise that stole the show. He earned Offensive Rookie of the Year honors and set the tone for what would become a decade of contention in Atlanta. Fans started calling him “Matty Ice” after a frozen Thanksgiving game in 2008 where he orchestrated a comeback against Tampa Bay. From day one, Ryan was all about winning—and the stats started piling up.
The Falcons’ Golden Era: Peaks, Pro Bowls, and That MVP Magic
Ryan’s prime years with the Falcons were nothing short of spectacular. From 2009 to 2016, he was the engine of an offense that featured stars like Roddy White, Tony Gonzalez, and later Julio Jones. Let’s hit some highlights:
- 2009-2010: Building Momentum – Ryan threw for over 3,000 yards each year, leading Atlanta to back-to-back 11-5 seasons and NFC South titles. In 2010, he had a career-year efficiency with a 91.8 passer rating, earning his first Pro Bowl nod.
- 2011: The Heartbreaker – Julio Jones arrived via draft, and Ryan’s arm lit up. He tossed 26 TDs to 12 picks, but a divisional playoff loss to the Packers (48-21) stung. Still, 13-3 regular season? Elite.
- 2012: MVP Buzz Begins – Ryan exploded for 4,719 yards and 32 TDs, going 13-3 and earning his second Pro Bowl. The Falcons finally broke through to the NFC Championship, only to fall to the 49ers in overtime. So close!
- 2013-2015: Consistency King – Injuries hit the team, but Ryan stayed steady. In 2013, despite a 4-12 record, he threw for 4,623 yards. By 2015, with a revamped defense, he led Atlanta to 8-8, showing his resilience.
Then came 2016: The Matty Ice Masterpiece. Oh man, what a year. Ryan completed 69.9% of his passes for a league-high 4,944 yards, 38 TDs, and just 7 INTs. His 117.1 passer rating? MVP territory. The Falcons went 11-5, and Ryan became the first Falcons QB to win league MVP since the ’70s. Playoffs were electric: Wins over Seattle and Green Bay led to Super Bowl LI. Up 28-3 on the Patriots… and then, well, you know. The 34-28 overtime loss is etched in NFL lore. Heartbreaking, but Ryan’s stats that postseason? 2,000+ yards, 4 TDs, zero picks in the NFCCG. Ice cold.
Through it all, Ryan racked up four Pro Bowls (2010, 2012, 2016, 2018) and showed why he was the glue for a franchise on the rise.
The Later Years: Trade to Indy and a Graceful Exit
After the Super Bowl gut-punch, Atlanta’s roster aged, and the wins dried up. By 2020, Ryan was still slinging it—4,557 yards and 26 TDs—but the Falcons went 4-12. Whispers of a trade grew. In 2022, it happened: Ryan was shipped to the Indianapolis Colts for a third-round pick. A fresh start with a solid line and young weapons like Michael Pittman Jr.
His Indy tenure was solid but short. In 2022, he threw for 3,057 yards and 14 TDs in just eight starts before a season-ending ankle injury. The Colts finished 4-12-1, but Ryan’s 70.5 passer rating was his worst ever—chalk it up to protection issues. He retired in April 2024 after 16 seasons, 15 as a starter. No Super Bowl ring, but top-10 all-time in passing yards (62,792), TDs (381), and attempts (8,903). Hall of Fame eligible in 2028? You bet.
Off the field, Ryan’s a family man—married to Sarah Marshall with three kids—and he’s already dipping into broadcasting. Class act all the way.
Matt Ryan Career Stats: The Numbers Don’t Lie
Alright, let’s get to the meat: the stats. Ryan was a volume passer who thrived on efficiency. Career passer rating of 94.6? Top-10 all-time. He holds Falcons records for yards, TDs, and completions. Rushing? Not his forte, but he added 1,547 yards and 13 scores on the ground—smart scrambling, not hero ball.
To make it crystal clear, here’s a full table of his regular-season passing and rushing stats, year by year. I’ve kept it simple: Games (G/GS), Completions-Attempts (Comp-Att), Yards, TDs, INTs, Rating for passing; and Carries, Rush Yards, Rush TDs for the ground game. Data pulled from reliable NFL sources like Pro-Football-Reference and ESPN. Easy to scan, right?
| Year | Team | G/GS | Comp-Att | Pass Yds | Pass TD | INT | Rating | Car | Rush Yds | Rush TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | ATL | 16/16 | 265-434 | 3426 | 16 | 11 | 81.0 | 41 | 139 | 1 |
| 2009 | ATL | 14/14 | 232-370 | 2912 | 20 | 12 | 88.2 | 20 | 64 | 0 |
| 2010 | ATL | 16/16 | 296-442 | 3705 | 28 | 9 | 91.8 | 26 | 122 | 0 |
| 2011 | ATL | 16/16 | 311-432 | 3662 | 26 | 12 | 90.6 | 35 | 126 | 0 |
| 2012 | ATL | 16/16 | 361-535 | 4719 | 32 | 14 | 98.9 | 39 | 141 | 1 |
| 2013 | ATL | 16/16 | 439-651 | 4623 | 26 | 17 | 88.6 | 36 | 147 | 0 |
| 2014 | ATL | 16/16 | 404-628 | 4693 | 28 | 22 | 89.0 | 36 | 127 | 1 |
| 2015 | ATL | 16/16 | 483-715 | 4826 | 28 | 16 | 90.1 | 35 | 104 | 1 |
| 2016 | ATL | 16/16 | 407-580 | 4944 | 38 | 7 | 117.1 | 29 | 104 | 1 |
| 2017 | ATL | 16/16 | 419-604 | 4467 | 29 | 14 | 95.7 | 30 | 104 | 0 |
| 2018 | ATL | 16/16 | 432-620 | 4926 | 35 | 12 | 100.3 | 32 | 127 | 0 |
| 2019 | ATL | 15/15 | 421-625 | 4603 | 26 | 11 | 92.1 | 30 | 98 | 0 |
| 2020 | ATL | 16/16 | 430-627 | 4557 | 26 | 12 | 91.3 | 28 | 96 | 0 |
| 2021 | ATL | 17/17 | 376-566 | 4048 | 20 | 12 | 84.4 | 23 | 94 | 0 |
| 2022 | IND | 8/8 | 196-294 | 3057 | 14 | 8 | 80.3 | 13 | 54 | 0 |
| Career | 234/222 | 5907-8903 | 62,792 | 381 | 170 | 94.6 | 453 | 1547 | 5 |
Look at that 2016 line—pure dominance! And those career totals? Ryan’s 62,792 yards put him ninth all-time, behind only Brady, Brees, and a few others. His 381 TDs? Seventh place. Not flashy like some, but steady as a heartbeat.
Breaking Down the Stats: What Makes Matty Ice Tick?
Diving deeper, Ryan’s game was all about smarts over sizzle. His completion percentage hovered around 66% career-wide, peaking at 69.9% in 2016. Yards per attempt? A crisp 7.0, showing he didn’t force throws. Interceptions? Just 170 in over 8,900 tries—smart decisions, even in shootouts.
Rushing wasn’t his wheelhouse, but those 13 total TDs (including playoffs) came from savvy reads, like his 39-yard scamper in 2022. Playoffs add another layer: In 11 games, he threw for 3,472 yards, 24 TDs, and 11 INTs. That Super Bowl run alone was legendary.
Compared to peers, Ryan’s no Aaron Rodgers in efficiency (career rating 94.6 vs. Rodgers’ 103.6), but his durability shines—starting 222 of 234 games. In an era of mobile QBs, Ryan proved pocket presence wins titles… almost.
Legacy and Why Matt Ryan Matters
Matt Ryan’s career isn’t defined by rings—he has none—but by what he built. He took the Falcons from laughingstock to perennial contenders, winning 120 games in Atlanta alone. His MVP, four Pro Bowls, and Rookie of the Year? Hall-worthy. Off-field, he’s donated millions to children’s hospitals and mentored young QBs.
