Matt Ryan Thanks Falcons Fans in Full-Page Newspaper Ad After Trade to Colts

Longtime Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan took out a full-page ad in the Atlanta Journal Constitution to thank the team and its fans after he was traded to the Indianapolis Colts.

AJC editor Kevin Riley provided a look at the letter:

Ryan spent 14 years with the Falcons after joining the franchise as a first-round pick out of Boston College in the 2008 draft.

He enjoyed a decorated career in Atlanta, highlighted by winning the Offensive Rookie of the Year Award in 2008 and the NFL's Most Valuable Player Award in 2016. He also guided the team to an appearance in Super Bowl LI at the end of the 2016 season.

The Pennsylvania native, who also earned four Pro Bowl selections, finished his Falcons tenure with 59,735 passing yards and 380 total touchdowns (367 passing, 12 rushing and one receiving) across 222 appearances for the organization.

Now at age 36, he's getting a late-career fresh start with the Colts.

Ryan said Tuesday he decided amid a flurry of trade rumors he only wanted to leave Atlanta for Indianapolis.

"I knew at some point I was going to need to make a decision on whether or not I wanted to stay, and as I looked into it, I knew there was only one spot I wanted to be," he told reporters. "There was no doubt that if I were to make a move, this is exactly where I wanted to be."

The Colts have a roster more prepared to contend than the Falcons, who were in the midst of a roster reconstruction even before moving their star quarterback.

That said, Indianapolis is also stuck in the AFC, which features no shortage of playoff contenders and will leave Ryan's new squad with a limited margin for error as he hunts his second Super Bowl appearance.

Before shifting focus to the challenge that lies ahead, he delivered one more thank you to the Falcons and their supporters.