Matt Ryan Is A Hall Of Fame Quarterback. The Numbers Prove It.

Since surpassing 50,000 yards, the debate around Matt Ryan’s Hall of Fame credentials have been a talking point around Atlanta. When looking at the numbers, the choice becomes pretty easy. Matt Ryan is a Hall of Fame quarterback.

Less than a month ago, Matt Ryan surpassed Warren Moon for 10th all-time in passing yards. After Ryan overtook Moon, the Atlanta Falcons quarterback soon eclipsed 50,000 yards in their win over the Carolina Panthers. With Ryan cementing himself into the top-ten all-time for passing yards, the question of him making it into the Hall of Fame came up. Some people thought it was absurd to include Ryan in a Hall of Fame discussion. However, when looking at the numbers, Ryan looks like a lock for the Hall of Fame.

This is Matt Ryan’s 12th season as a pro. Though this season has been rockier than what Ryan or Falcons fans’ are accustomed to, the Falcons QB has been very solid this season. Through 12 games, Ryan has thrown for 3,700 yards, 24 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. With two games left in the season, Ryan should surpass 4,000 yards and get close to 30 touchdowns. A very impressive season for Ryan.

Now, looking at some of the numbers of other Hall of Fame quarterbacks, Matt Ryan fares very well. Through their first 12 seasons, Ryan has more passing yards than Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, John Elway, Brett Favre, Dan Fouts, Warren Moon, Ben Rothlisberger, and Kurt Warner. Some of the best quarterbacks to ever play the game, and Ryan has more passing yards than every single one of these guys through their first 12 seasons. I don’t think any rational fan would question Elway, Manning, Favre and their Hall of Fame credentials. Yet, it’s not just passing yards.

Matt Ryan’s completion percentage, a stat Ryan isn’t praised for as much as some, is better than a lot of those guys in the HOF. Ryan, through 12 seasons, has a 65.4 completion percentage. That would rank him above Favre, Elway, Manning, Fouts, Moon, and Rothlisberger. Brees, at 65.6, and Warner, at 65.5, are the only two who rank above Ryan in this particular category.

Another area of Ryan’s excellence is his game-winning drives. Through 12 seasons, Ryan has had 38 game-winning drives. The only quarterbacks with more are Manning, Brees, Dan Marino, Tom Brady, Favre, Elway, and Rothlisberger. All of those names are in the HOF or will be when their playing career ends. Matt Ryan belongs in that group.

There is a slew of numbers that show Matt Ryan is a quarterback that belongs in the Hall of Fame alongside the likes of Manning, Elway, and Marino. For whatever reason, Ryan was never truly embraced by the entire city of Atlanta and fans’ of the Falcons. It’s sad because of how great Ryan has been throughout his first 12 seasons with the Falcons. Unfortunately, some people may not fully understand or appreciate Matt Ryan’s greatness until he’s gone. Because there is no doubt that Matt Ryan’s name will be included among the greatest to ever play the quarterback position when all is said and done.