The Colts have had a carousel of quarterbacks since Andrew Luck’s surprising retirement in 2019, but owner Jim Irsay is confident that the team has found its guy in Matt Ryan.
Indianapolis acquired Ryan from the Falcons in exchange for a third-round pick during the 2022 NFL offseason. While his tenure with the team didn’t start well — he was plagued by turnovers and sacks — things have turned around in recent weeks.
The Colts have posted a 3-1 record over the last four weeks, and their offense is starting to stabilize.
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Irsay believes that is thanks Ryan. He credited his quarterback with helping to lead the turnaround and even compared his leadership skills to those of the greatest quarterback in Colts history during a conversation with Ian Rapoport.
I’ll tell you, he is a steely-eyed missile man. I’ve been around a lot of leaders and I’d put him right up there with Peyton Manning. A really outstanding, tough guy who doesn’t back down. Often the best in fourth quarter and you don’t ever want to count out Matt Ryan. He’s a winner, he’s a fighter and our team is taking on that temperament around him, which is exciting.
Certainly, that’s high praise from Irsay, as Manning successfully helmed the Colts for 13 years and led the team to its second Super Bowl win in 2006. It also places some pressure on Ryan to get the Colts back to the playoffs after they didn’t qualify in 2021.
“I believe we’re playing ourselves into being an outstanding team,” Irsay said. “And I think we can be the best team in the division. We just have to go and prove it.”
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If Ryan can’t help prove the Colts are the best team in the AFC South, then the Colts may once again be at a crossroads. That could end up putting Ryan and coach Frank Reich on the hot seat.
Still, it seems that Irsay has more faith in Ryan than he did in the team’s 2021 starter, Carson Wentz. Irsay had previously called the Wentz era in Indianapolis “a mistake” and said it was one that the team had to end after just one season.
As such, Irsay’s opinion of Ryan, 37, will likely keep him entrenched as the starter longer than any of his previous one-off counterparts. That’s especially true considering that the owner believes the team is moving in the right direction.
“More will be revealed, no question about it,” he said. “But we’re encouraged, we really are.”
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