Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan turns 34 years old today. As he heads into what will be his 12th season in the NFL, he’s already passed some major milestones. If he plays all 16 games this year, there’s a good chance he’ll move up to No. 9 on the all-time passing yards list.
Now just imagine what Ryan could do if he plays beyond the five-year contract extension he signed last summer. Apparently, that’s the plan. Ryan told Vaughn McClure of ESPN back in December that he thinks he can play into his 40s.
“Yeah, I think so. I think, No. 1, I’ve got a long way to go until I get there,” Ryan said. “But if you can stay healthy, and you’re still playing at a high level and all those things, I don’t see why not.”
While that sounds good in theory, it’s rare for NFL quarterbacks to play into their 40s. Then again, Ryan has conditioned himself well and avoided injuries. He has only missed two games since he was drafted. If that trend continues and the Falcons continue to build a competitive roster around him, there’s no reason why he can’t keep playing at a high level that long.
