JANUARY 6: Although Brady has the FOX/Raiders overlap, Ryan does not appear to be under the impression he would have the opportunity to keep going at CBS and play a lead role in Falcons decision-making. As it turns out, Pelissero indicates Ryan would only work for the Falcons if he indeed becomes their football ops president.
This is an interesting about-face, and it is worth wondering if Ryan floated the prospect of doing both jobs. But the Atlanta resident looks to be committed to working with the Falcons. This would open an NFL Today slot for the 2026 season.
JANUARY 5: The Falcons appear set to hire former quarterback Matt Ryan as their new president of football operations. If the former MVP has his way, he’ll continue his TV gig.
[RELATED: Falcons Expected To Hire Matt Ryan As President Of Football Operations]
According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero (h/t Awful Announcing), Ryan is “hoping to retain his duties at CBS.” Ryan joined the network as an analyst for the 2023 season, and he’s been apart of The NFL Today pregame show since 2024.
Naturally, this arrangement would present some potential conflicts of interest. However, the NFL has already set a precedent in regards to executives working for media partners. Despite being a partial owner of the Las Vegas Raiders, Tom Brady has continued to serve as the lead color commentator for the NFL on Fox.
A recent report from Dianna Russini of The Athletic indicated that Brady was only at the team facility “a handful of times this season.” While Brady was still heavily involved in the Raiders’ daily operations, there’s also a clear distinction between a minority owner and the leader of football operations. While Brady was allowed to juggle both responsibilities, it’s uncertain if the same flexibility will be afforded to Ryan, both from the NFL and from Falcons ownership.
Of course, Ryan’s television duties shouldn’t distract from his initial tasks as Atlanta’s president of football operations. The former quarterback will be responsible for spearheading the organization’s search for a new head coach and general manager. Once those hires have been made, Ryan will presumably also have major influence over the team’s roster. This duty would surely extend into the 2026 regular season.
Oh cool, the obviously foolish precedent set with Tom Brady is being repeated for yet another guy who isn’t even particularly good at broadcasting.
The NFL needs to man up and stop this practice before it gets out of hand. Eliminate the Tom Brady conflict (he is not even good at commentating) and set clear rules between being in the media and a team executive/ owner.
Why?
If you have to ask, you don’t understand football. Broadcasters are privy to information that other team executives are prevented from seeing. Brady and, in this case, Ryan, would also be able to have close conversations with other teams players without being fined (or losing picks).
Brady has become a double-dealing a$$hole who’s in it only for himself. As proof, the Raiders under his part-ownership have collapsed to their worst period in at least the past 25 years.
On a side note Fox Sports’ president/chief operating officer has just resigned. His replacement might be a bit more concerned about ethics, but then again this is a Murdoch company.
Beyond the conflict of interest, isn’t this a red flag to the owner? This is the POFO job we’re talking about. How does Ryan think he’s gonna hire a new GM and HC, build a roster, manage it through a whole season and be a broadcaster at the same time?
How does this guy think a POFO has time for moonlighting? Dude is delusional.
So a guy can’t take a few hours a week to work a game?
You think he only has to put in a few hours a week?
With alot of these announcers, thats how it seems.
This isn’t a 15 minute weekly radio hit. I guarantee he spends nearly all of Sunday preparing for, and participating in CBS’s football show. And then traveling home. And he probably travels to the studio on Saturday. POFO is a 60+ hour a week job. The two cannot co-exist. Which I’m sure is what Rich McKay/Arthur Smith told him.
Can we all agree that Brady being on TV and being a part owner did NOTHING positive for the Raiders this year?
What would have been different if he had not been working his TV gig?
We wouldn’t have had to hear his voice all season.
In fairness to Brady, he’s loosened up a bit and his commentary has improved. Someone has worked with him on his squeaky voice as well. After a horrible start, Brady is now a middle-of-the-road colour commentator.
Certainly didn’t do anything positive for me having to watch him
This might be a good thing. Let the other yappers ask him questions about his decisions on air. The Falcons seem to make dumb decisions as a matter of policy, so shedding light on them for the world to see might tighten things up.
Oh no. Please no. I loved Ryan as a player and I hope he does great things in the front office but he’s absolutely the most annoying commentator I’ve ever heard or watched. He’s absolutely horrible. I tried to listen to him a few times but all I can do is flip to another game. Not a fan of Brady as a commentator either but he’s way better than Ryan.
I say let them do both.
Especially if the’re not good at it.
Jerry Jones would be great
as a TV broadcaster during games.
He could negotiate contracts while
conducting interviews!
Pete Fairbanks would be a great MLB
TV broadcaster. He could go from the booth to the bullpen after the 7th inning stretch to get ready to close the game! Both would put the “COLOR” in Color Commentators!
Fairbanks has the best one-liners!
Just got the job, already not taking it seriously. The Falcons are gonna Falcons.
CBS Sports actually cares about ethics and that is one part of the company that hasn’t come under the thumb of Larry Ellison.
Should Ryan join the Falcons, Trent Green or Ross Tucker can easily occupy the open chair on The NFL Today.
I’m beginning to think it’s a requirement for every writer who writes for any of the Rumors sites to use the word “surely” in every article.