Matthew Thomas “Matt” Ryan was born in 1985 and is best known by his nickname, “Matty Ice.” He is the third of four children born to Bernice and Michael Ryan, both of whom are Roman Catholics of Irish descent. Matt’s passion for football appears to run in the family—his uncle, John Loughery, also played quarterback at Boston College from 1979 to 1982.
Matt Ryan attended William Penn Charter School in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. As a three-year starter at quarterback, he earned several accolades, including All-East honors from the Larunt Lemming Prep Football Report. He was also named to the All-Southeastern Pennsylvania and All-City first teams in 2002, and was a three-time All-League selection. In his senior year, Ryan threw for over 1,300 yards and nine touchdowns, finishing his high school career with a completion rate of over 52% across three seasons. In addition to football, he was a multi-sport athlete, participating in baseball and basketball.
Ryan played for the Boston College Eagles from 2005 to 2007, during which time he served as the team's starting quarterback. He led the team to three bowl victories and threw for over 200 yards in fifteen games. At the conclusion of his college career, he ranked fifth in school history for both passing yards and pass completions. Notably, he earned MVP honors in the 2005 MPC Computers Bowl. In 2007, Ryan led Boston College to the Atlantic Division title of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).
Matt Ryan was selected by the Atlanta Falcons as the third overall pick in the first round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He made an immediate impact in his rookie season, starting all 16 games and leading the Falcons to an 11–5 record and a playoff appearance. For his outstanding performance, he was named the Associated Press NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2008.
| Net Worth 2021: | 70 million |
