Arthur Blank is changing how the Atlanta Falcons run football. On Thursday, the team will start interviews for a new, powerful front-office role: president of football. And one of the candidates is the face of a generation for this franchise — former longtime quarterback and NFL MVP Matt Ryan.

Blank confirmed Ryan will be interviewed for the job that will sit above the head coach and general manager and help pick both. The decision comes just days after the Falcons finished 8-9 in 2025, then fired head coach Raheem Morris and GM Terry Fontenot on Sunday night.

For a fan base tired of eight straight losing seasons, this is a bold reset. It is also a sign that Blank, now 83 and the team’s owner since 2002, wants urgency and accountability at the top of football operations.

Why Atlanta is creating a president of football

The Falcons are installing a clear leader on the football side before hiring a new coach or general manager. Blank said this role will be prioritized, with the new president of football playing a central part in selecting the next head coach and GM. Those two hires will report to the president. In short, Atlanta is rebuilding its decision tree from the top down.

Blank’s reasoning is simple. He felt the team underperformed the talent on hand. “It was my conclusion as the season went on that we could not achieve or were not achieving at the level that I thought this roster was capable of performing at,” he said. He added, “I think we’re capable of getting to another level… I felt I’ve seen enough to know that we could do better than this, in my heart.”

“If there’s one person who knows what Atlanta football should feel like, it’s Matt Ryan.”

Matt Ryan’s candidacy and Blank’s trust

Ryan is not a courtesy interview. Blank called him “an outstanding individual, great community leader, and the kind of person you’d certainly want to consider in that position.” The owner also said his interest in Ryan is rooted in their long relationship. Ryan was the steady star at quarterback for more than a decade in Atlanta and the NFL’s MVP in 2016.

Ryan’s potential move from the huddle to the executive suite would be notable, but it fits a broader NFL trend of teams valuing leadership and understanding of culture at the very top. For Atlanta, bringing in a franchise icon to help steer a reset could also re-energize a fan base that watched a late four-game win streak fall just short of the playoffs.

It’s important to note: Ryan is one of several candidates. The Falcons have engaged the consulting firm Sportsology to study the organization and assist in the general manager search. Executive search firm ZRG Partners is helping lead the head-coach search. This is a structured, multi-pronged process, not a quick fix.

What the job actually controls

The president of football will be the top voice in football strategy and personnel flow. The job is designed to:

• Set the vision for the roster and team culture.
• Lead and prioritize the hiring of the head coach and general manager.
• Align analytics, scouting, coaching, and player development under one plan.

This role also replaces Greg Beadles in the football-oversight lane he previously covered. Beadles has been hired as the Falcons’ president and CEO, focused on business operations.

“Give the football keys to someone who knows the roads — that’s the idea.”

Front office shuffle: who does what now

Atlanta’s org chart is being cleaned up. Greg Beadles becomes president and chief executive officer for the club, overseeing the business side. Rich McKay, who previously served as team president, continues as CEO of AMB Sports and Entertainment. McKay’s focus includes major events at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, like the 2026 World Cup and Atlanta’s 2028 Super Bowl planning.

By separating business and football more clearly — and adding a seasoned football boss — the Falcons aim to speed up decisions and own one vision. This structure has worked for other successful organizations because it reduces mixed messages and clarifies who is accountable.

The urgency after an 8-9 season

The Falcons ended the 2025 season at 8-9, but did so with four straight wins. The surge was not enough for Blank. He moved quickly on Sunday, firing Raheem Morris and Terry Fontenot hours after the schedule closed. On Monday, he wrote to fans, acknowledging his disappointment in eight consecutive losing seasons.

It is hard to square a hot finish with major changes, but the owner made clear that big picture results matter more than a short streak. That’s why the president of football hire will come first. The new leader will then choose a coach and general manager who fit one plan from day one.

“Four wins to end the year is nice. Eight losing seasons is the problem.”

How the search will work

Interviews begin Thursday. According to coverage by CBS News Atlanta, WSB-TV, and ESPN, the Falcons have brought in experts to make sure the process is thorough and aligned. Sportsology, a consulting firm known for auditing and advising sports organizations, has studied the Falcons and will assist with the general manager search. ZRG Partners, an executive search firm, will help steer the hunt for a head coach.

By using outside partners, Atlanta hopes to test assumptions, check for blind spots, and run a modern search that values both leadership and data. That also gives the future president of football a sharper set of candidates to evaluate.

The broader meaning for fans and the locker room

For players, a single football leader can provide clarity. They’ll know the chain of command and what matters most. For fans, a familiar face like Ryan in a top job would send a message: the people who built the best years of Falcons football are back to rebuild it the right way.

Still, the job is massive. Eight losing seasons point to deeper issues in roster building, player development, and week-to-week execution. The president of football will need to blend patience with action — fix the core problems, then hire a coach and GM who can turn a late-season push into a full-season identity.

What to watch next

All eyes are on the first wave of interviews. If Ryan impresses, the Falcons could double down on culture and leadership by naming a franchise legend to steer football operations. If they go in a different direction, the bar is set: the next president must have a clear plan, a strong voice, and the trust of both the owner and the locker room.

Blank’s tone leaves little doubt about expectations. He believes this roster can reach a higher level and wants to see it now. Atlanta’s next chapter starts at the top — and it starts this week.