Matt Ryan is having his best season as a pro and is a legitimate MVP candidate, so it’s no surprise he thinks the man in charge of the Atlanta Falcons’ offense deserves an opportunity to move onto bigger and better things.
On his weekly radio spot with 680 The Fan Tuesday, Ryan was asked if he believes Falcons offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan should be an NFL head coach.
“Oh yeah, I think so. I think whenever he does get an opportunity, he’ll do a great job,” Ryan said, as transcribed by D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “I hope it’s not for awhile because we’ve got a good thing going on. Whenever he gets his opportunity, he’ll do a great job.”
Shanahan is in his second year as OC in Atlanta, and the leap from year one to year two has been remarkable. The Falcons are by far the highest scoring team in the NFL with 32.9 points per game. Ryan has obviously helped, as his 113.2 passer rating is a career high by a landslide. The ninth-year pro has thrown 30 touchdown passes and just seven interceptions after finishing with 21 scores and 16 picks a year ago.
Ironically, one former Falcon blamed Shanahan for Atlanta’s offensive struggles in 2015. That just goes to show how unfair it can be to judge a coach based on one season in a new place.
“I think he’s a good leader,” Ryan added. “I think he’s got a good feel for talent evaluation and getting the guys that he wants to make it work for him. I think if he ever gets that chance, he’ll do a great job.”
Shanahan is only 36, so he’s very young by NFL head coaching standards. But given some of the reports we have heard during the season, this could be his best chance at making the leap.
