Matt Ryan is seeking to handle unfinished business in his new role as Falcons president of football

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) 鈥� Matt Ryan said he is motivated to take care of unfinished business in his new role as the Atlanta Falcons president of football.

Ryan was named the 2016 NFL MVP after leading the Falcons to the Super Bowl in the highlight of his 14 years as the team’s starting quarterback. Even so, the Falcons never won the championship and now Ryan has a new opportunity to help the team win its first title.

Ryan’s first priority is leading the search for a new coach and general manager.

鈥淭o the Falcons fans, my mission since I was drafted has never changed,鈥� Ryan said Tuesday in his first news conference since being on Saturday. “It is to help this organization do everything it can to be champions and to win championships.

鈥淎nd there is a sense of unfinished business.鈥�

The Falcons and general manager Terry Fontenot after an 8-9 finish. Falcons owner Arthur Blank also made front office changes, including the creation of the president of football position.

Ryan takes over the leadership of football operations from Greg Beadles, who remains president and CEO. The new coach and general manager will report to Ryan, who Blank said Tuesday is in charge of 鈥渆verything between football and grass.鈥�

鈥淲e feel he’s a perfect choice,鈥� said Blank of Ryan, adding he spoke with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell 鈥渁nd made him aware we were chatting with Matt. And his response was that, you know, you鈥檙e not going to find anybody better, smarter, more committed, a better human being, a better leader for the NFL and for your franchise.鈥�

While Ryan is charged with setting the course for the team, he emphasized he won’t interfere with the traditional decisions handled by the coach and general manager.

When asked when he first considered seeking a front-office position with an NFL team, Ryan said 鈥淚 didn’t鈥� during his three years an an NFL analyst for CBS.

鈥淚 was really happy with what I was doing at that time with CBS and excited about that opportunity,鈥� Ryan said. 鈥淎nd I want to make it clear. This is the only place I would do it, and I feel really connected to this organization and have my entire life or adult life.鈥�

Ryan worked on the CBS pregame show on Sunday and said he hoped at this time next year the crew is discussing the Falcons in the playoffs.

鈥淚 believe there鈥檚 a lot of young, talented players on the defensive side of the ball,鈥� Ryan said. “We鈥檝e got some offensive linemen who are really, really solid, some of which I played with, which is kind of crazy, but really cool. I think we鈥檝e got a special running back in Bijan (Robinson) and what he can do as a player. We鈥檝e got some talented pieces on the outside.

鈥淭here鈥檚 a lot of good pieces that are here, but I also recognize it鈥檚 hard. I mean, it鈥檚 difficult to win in this league and it takes everyone, it takes everybody coming together and pulling their weight. And so I鈥檓 excited about what鈥檚 here. I think there are a lot of strong pieces, and certainly confident in the players that we have in our building.鈥�

Ryan also said 鈥淚 love鈥� quarterback , who is recovering from season-ending surgery on his left knee.

The Falcons interviewed six head coach candidates in Ryan’s first three days, including former Baltimore coach and former Miami coach Mike McDaniel on Monday. Beadles said the team has only interviewed coaches, not candidates to be GM, because 鈥渢here are specific windows when we can talk to coaches.鈥�

Blank said he hoped the new coach and general manager can be hired at about the same time.

鈥淚t鈥檚 important we land both these planes about at the same time, because there has to be collaboration between these two individuals,鈥� Blank said.

Ryan’s wife, Sarah, and three sons 鈥� twins Marshall and Johnny and youngest son Cal 鈥� attended the news conference. The boys wore Ryan’s Falcons jerseys. When Cal grew restless during the hour-long news conference, Ryan noted his ability to continue answering questions proved he can multitask.

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