Former longtime Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan was a special guest at the New England Patriots training camp practice on Friday.
Ryan, a former Boston College quarterback, returned to his old stomping grounds to watch the new-look Patriots prepare for the regular season. He particularly looked interested in the rebuilt quarterback room.
The team shipped Mac Jones off in a trade in the offseason, signed veteran Jacoby Brissett and drafted both Drake Maye and Joe Milton III. Bailey Zappe is the only quarterback left standing from the Bill Belichick era.
That’s an era Ryan knows too well. It’s the era that housed legendary quarterback Tom Brady, who led the Patriots back from a 28-3 deficit to beat Ryan and the Falcons and win Super Bowl LI.
But this wasn’t about pouring salt on old wounds. Ryan being at practice and talking to the Patriots’ quarterbacks was beneficial. If only for a few minutes, who wouldn’t want to pick the brain of a former NFL MVP and four-time Pro Bowl quarterback?
Matt Ryan is chatting it up with Jacoby Brissett, Drake Maye, and Bailey Zappe following #Patriots practice.
— Mike Kadlick (@mikekadlick) August 2, 2024
Ryan was the No. 3 overall pick of the 2008 NFL draft by the Falcons. He could probably relate a lot to what Maye is going through right now.
But he’s also proof that special and unexpected things can come from hard work and opportunity.