Matt Ryan's time with the Colts will come to an end during the 2023 NFL offseason after just one year in Indianapolis.
The question now will be about what is next for the 37-year-old quarterback.
Ryan won the MVP award in 2016 and was once one of the NFL's better QBs. However, he didn't look good in 2022. He posted one of the worst seasons of his career, logging 13 interceptions, suffering 38 sacks and fumbling 15 times in 12 starts. He was benched twice by two different coaches because of his shortcomings.
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As such, Ryan could be thinking about retirement, especially if he can't find a solid backup job anywhere. And reports indicate that he could be the next big-name quarterback to consider a move to the broadcast booth.
Andrew Marchand of the New York Post reports that Ryan is "very interested" in pursuing a broadcasting career once he stops playing in the NFL.
It isn't clear exactly when that would be, as Ryan "still could play next season," per Marchand. But either way, it looks like he has his preferred post-playing career choice selected.
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Of course, Ryan is not guaranteed to get into a broadcast booth. There is a lot of competition for roles in the booth now that networks are willing to pay nine-figure contracts for high-end analysts. And it isn't likely that Ryan would fall in the same camp as Tony Romo or Tom Brady given each's high-profile personality and Romo's early success on the mic.
Still, Ryan has the profile and high IQ needed to be a quality broadcaster. When Sporting News' Joe Rivera ranked every projected NFL starting quarterbacks on how they would do in the booth last offseason, Ryan cracked the B team tier. So, the potential is there.
That's why Ryan could be granted an opportunity to prove himself. It just may be on a lower-tier broadcast with either CBS or Fox. He also could become a studio analyst if no color analyst position is available.
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Either way, it will be interesting to see where Ryan lands, whether he goes into the broadcast booth or back to the field for a 16th season. The Colts are probably hoping it's the latter, as that would guarantee to offset some of the $12 million in guarantees that Indianapolis owes him in guaranteed money.
