The Falcons took a step backward last season, but owner Arthur Blank says he has no doubt that Matt Ryan is the quarterback to lead the franchise going forward.
And Blank paid what is, coming from a billionaire businessman, a huge compliment to Ryan’s leadership qualities: Blank says Ryan would make a great chief executive.
“He’s grown as a quarterback,” Blank told ESPN blogger Pat Yasinskas. “He’s grown as an individual. He’s obviously a great team leader. People recognize that and identify with him. He’s exactly what you would want in the CEO of a business. He’s the first to work and the last to leave. He works the hardest and studies. He provides all kinds of leadership on and off the field. I’m thrilled where he is.’’
However, Blank also acknowledged that Ryan’s progress hasn’t translated to progress for the Falcons in the postseason.
“He understands this, that to become an elite quarterback in the league, you’ve got to win playoff games,” Blank said.
So Ryan may be everything you could want in a CEO, but he’s not everything you could want in an elite quarterback.