Congratulations, Atlanta Falcons supporters! You’ve officially aged ten years in a single offseason. Why? Because on the one hand, one chapter of this superstar’s life has been officially closed. Who? The man who revolutionised aerial warfare in the NFL. And the other? The most recognisable quarterback in the franchise, Matt Ryan, may be taking on a new job behind the scenes. With this megastar walking away and Matt taking charge. The city of Atlanta quietly murmurs, “Bro, we’re not prepared for this emotional rollercoaster.”

The moment when every Falcons supporter looked at their phone and said, “Damn, I’m not crying in 4K.” Matt Ryan’s dropped an IG post that felt less like a farewell and more like the opening scene of a documentary we didn’t know we needed.

He didn’t just post a tribute to Julio Jones — he posted a movie. The initial frame? With his back turned and the number 11 gleaming through the smoke, Julio in that fiery red Falcons jersey looks more like he’s entering a Marvel film than a football stadium. To be honest, I would believe someone if they told me that this was a trailer for “Avengers: NFC South.” Then the gut punch of nostalgia follows. The second picture? Ryan and Julio’s mid-bro handshake, laughing like two high school students who just performed the year’s biggest practical joke. And the last shot? On the pitch, a hug that conveys the message, “We went through wars together. And we damn near won the whole thing.”

However, it was the caption that elevated this farewell to the level of the Hall of Fame. “Still to this day, the best catch I’ve ever seen was right after we drafted Julio… One-handed, back of the end zone at Buford High. I knew immediately he was different.” Translation? Since day one, Julio Jones has been that guy. Not after his first Pro Bowl. Not after the game against Carolina with 300 yards. Not even after Super Bowl 51. Matt concluded the post by describing Julio’s influence as “immeasurable.” The true kicker, though? “His impact on me was more significant than any other person I played with or for.” Mic. Drop. That is a career-defining statement, not a mere compliment.

In addition to being quarterback and receiver, Matt and Julio co-wrote every Falcons highlight reel over the past ten years. Do you recall that sideline toe-tap during the 2016 NFC Championship? It was telepathy in action, not merely a throw and catch. Or when Matty Ice nonchalantly gestured like, “Yup, that’s my guy,” while Julio stiff-armed a defender into a different zip code. They gave Falcons fans heartburn and hope with their 300-yard receiving explosions, 500-yard passing performances, and comebacks.

It wasn’t all game-day glory, though. They developed a bond through summer workouts while the league was asleep, worked out together at high school fields throughout the off-season, and shared that recognisable handshake that said, “We built this,” which was equal parts swag and fraternity. They weren’t just teammates; they grew up together in the NFL from MVP seasons to Super Bowl heartbreaks, from game-winning drives to locker-room teasing. That’s why Matt’s tribute felt like a page from his personal diary. Because Julio wasn’t just a teammate—he was family. But as one chapter closes, another seems to be quietly cracking open for one of them.

From MVP to mentor? Matt Ryan’s role with Atlanta is heating up

Something else subtly began to take shape while fans were busy replaying highlight tapes of Julio high-pointing footballs like he had a jetpack: Matt Ryan might be landing his next job, and it’s right back where it all started. Raheem Morris, head coach of the Falcons, has been gushing about youngster Michael Penix Jr. as if he were the protagonist of a sports documentary on Netflix. And you know who is supposedly assisting him with that change?

Morris himself. “Try to hook him up with people to talk to about what they’ve done in their past, whether that be Matt Ryan, whether that be his coaches, whatever the case may be before he left.” This is Morris’s overt reference to Matt Ryan as a potential mentor for Michael Penix Jr., which makes the entire “From MVP to Mentor” narrative seem less speculative and far more likely.

Oh, so we’re getting a buddy mentorship movie with Matt Ryan and Penix instead of simply sobbing over Julio? Tell Netflix that we have discovered the storyline for Season 2 of Quarterback. To put it plainly, Penix is more than just a project. The guy made the Natty with Washington, tossed 4,903 yards and 36 touchdowns in college, and unofficially came in second in the Heisman voting. Even while his three Atlanta games from the previous season weren’t flawless, the flashes? Chef’s kiss. He even ran in a TD like he was auditioning for a Lamar Jackson remake.

Penix is now being treated like the man by Morris and the Falcons. And who better than a Ring of Honour quarterback who survived four offensive coordinator changes and still won an MVP award to help him navigate the emotional roller coaster that is the NFL? The Falcons witnessed the exchange of helmets for legacy between their two greatest offensive legends in a matter of weeks. Julio leaves the battlefield like a Greek deity. Ryan, Matt? Wearing loafers and carrying a clipboard, he might be creating Atlanta’s next great quarterback.

And for that reason, this moment is legendary. Because handing the torch is more important than a coaching whisper or a retirement post. On the runway, the highest-flying Falcon tipped its wings to the next one. So, yes, Julio is done. Matt is changing. What about Penix? With a little assistance from the man who once made Sunday Night Football into a highlight reel, he is set to craft his own story.

Strap in, Atlanta. You’re living inside a football movie now. From “Jet” to Penix, the sky’s never looked busier in here! 🛫🏈🔥