Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan will be back where it all started during the team's bye week this year as Boston College announced it would retire his jersey number at the Nov. 19 game against Connecticut.
Ryan capped an illustrious Boston College career by being selected third overall by the Falcons in the 2008 NFL draft, becoming BC's highest draft pick ever in any sport. During his standout senior season in 2007, he led the team to an 8-0 start and No. 2 national ranking en route to an 11-3 record (best since 1940), the ACC Atlantic Division championship and the school's first-ever appearance in the ACC Championship game.
He was the winner of the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award (given to the nation's top senior quarterback), the Manning Award (given to the nation's top quarterback), was ACC Player of the Year and finished seventh in Heisman Trophy balloting. He set the BC school record for single-season passing yards and when he completed 388-of-654 passes for 4,507 yards and 31 touchdowns in 2007.
In eight seasons in the NFL, he has completed 2,915 of 4,530 passes (64.3 percent) for 32,757 yards and 202 touchdowns while posting a 90.9 passer rating. He owns franchise records for career passing yards (28,166), career pass attempts (3,916), career completions (2,508), career touchdowns (181), career passing rating (91.1), career completion percentage (64.0) and career 300-yard games (30).
Now division rivals, Ryan's jersey will be joined by former BC teammate Luke Kuechly, Pro Bowl linebacker for the Carolina Panthers, as Kuechly will receive the same honor in October. "Boston College is an amazing place," Ryan said. "I am very fortunate to have had so many great memories during my college years at BC. I continue to be so fortunate with the retirement of my jersey and I am humbled that it will hang in Alumni Stadium with BC legends Doug Flutie, Mike Ruth and now Luke Kuechly. I'm so thankful for the guidance of all my coaches and the support of all my teammates during my time on campus. Football is the ultimate team sport and without their contributions none of this would have been possible."
Previously, Boston College has retired the numbers of Flutie, a Heisman Trophy-winner, and Ruth, an Outland Trophy winner, as well as the jerseys of eight other standouts: Art Donovan, Bill Flynn, Gene Goodreault, Mike Holovak, Lou Montgomery, Charles O'Rourke, Tony Thurman and Louis Urban.
