When Matt Ryan was playing for the Falcons, the team didn’t have to answer any questions about their quarterback plans but his first year as the franchise’s president of football isn’t starting under the same circumstances.
Michael Penix’s ACL rehab creates uncertainty about when he’ll be ready to play again and Tua Tagovailoa arrived in Atlanta off of being benched by the Dolphins during the 2026 season, so the prospect of opening the season with him under center won’t fill anyone with confidence. During a Monday appearance on 680 The Fan, Ryan acknowledged that “you just don’t know where Michael’s going to be” once the Falcons get to training camp while expressing confidence in how both players have been approaching their work.
“I never went through an ACL, but there’s certain milestones that you’ve got to hit, and the closer you get, the more variability there is because the intensity and the speed picks up,” Ryan said. “Mike’s in a good spot right now. As far as expectations, we don’t really know what to expect at the beginning of training camp. But I think with the way both of those guys are working and the conversations we’ve had with both of them about — I believe quarterbacks should be the most competitive people on your team. Whether that’s first, second or third, there’s a way to go out there and compete and win the day. . . . I think the way both those guys have started the offseason will put us in a good spot.”
One wouldn’t expect pessimism from someone in Ryan’s position at this point in the calendar, but the on-field work this summer will determine whether his optimism is grounded in reality or hopefulness.
The Falcons have made another key addition to their front office.
Bryce Johnston, who previously worked for the Eagles, is the Falcons’ new Senior VP of Football Administration and Senior Personnel Executive, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network.
Johnston’s job responsibilities will include leading salary-cap strategy and serving as lead contract negotiator. He’ll serve under President Matt Ryan and General Manager Ian Cunningham.
The news of Johnston’s hiring comes after the Falcons parted ways with Senior Director of Football Administration Chris Olsen.
After getting through the draft over the weekend, the Falcons are making a change in their front office.
According to Tom Pelissero of NFL Media, Atlanta and senior director of football administration Chris Olsen have parted ways.
Olsen had been with the club since early 2021, working to negotiate player, coach, and front office contracts.
He was previously with the Texans for 13 seasons, serving as senior VP of football administration, largely serving the same duties.
With Matt Ryan now in as team president, Ian Cunningham in as General Manager, and Kevin Stefanski at head coach, the Falcons continue to reshape the structure of their team in 2026.
The Falcons are down to one punter on their 90-man roster.
The team announced that they have released Trenton Gill on Monday. They signed Jake Bailey to a three-year contract as a free agent and he’s now the lone punting option in Atlanta.
Gill signed to the Falcons’ practice squad late last season and did not appear in any games for the team.
Gill’s last regular season action came in eight games for the Buccaneers in 2024. He had a net average of 38.7 yards per kick in those appearances and an average of 38.8 net yards in 34 games for the Bears.
Naming rights have their limits.
With the World Cup coming and FIFA insistent on specific, soccer-friendly playing surfaces, it also made demands about the exterior of the various American venues in which the games will be played.
In places like Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, the company that pays more than $10 million per year through 2042 will have its name and logo disappear for the next few months.
Via Front Office Sports, workers are covering the large Mercedes-Benz logo with a World Cup tarp. And the venue will be known for the duration of the tournament as Atlanta Stadium.
It’s a strange move. It’s never been known as “Atlanta Stadium.” It will be, for a few months. And then it will go back to being Mercedes-Benz Stadium, as if the change never happened.
Unfortunately for NFL players, the high-quality grass that will be implemented for the World Cup will also go back to the fake stuff. As if the change to the preferred surface never happened.
But that’s the power of FIFA. To get the matches, the proprietors of the various NFL venues had to bend over backward, in multiple ways. And they gladly did it.
