It’s easy to look back at the 2016 NFL season and only see the Super Bowl LI collapse. The 28-3 memes are eternal. They’ve basically become a permanent part of the league's furniture. But if you let that comeback cloud your memory of the regular season, you're missing out on one of the most efficient, hyper-productive quarterback performances in the history of the sport. Matt Ryan didn't just win the mvp for nfl 2016; he basically broke the math of modern football for sixteen weeks.
People forget how crowded that field was. You had Tom Brady coming off a suspension and playing like a man possessed. Derek Carr was finally turning the Raiders into a winner before his leg snapped on Christmas Eve. Ezekiel Elliott was a rookie sensation running behind a Cowboys line that looked like a moving wall. Yet, when the dust settled, "Matty Ice" stood alone. He wasn't just a "system quarterback" thriving under Kyle Shanahan. He was the system.
The Statistical Monster Nobody Saw Coming
Honestly, the numbers Ryan put up are still kind of staggering. He finished the year with 4,944 passing yards and 38 touchdowns. Only seven interceptions. That’s a touchdown-to-interception ratio that makes defensive coordinators lose sleep. But the real kicker? His yards per attempt.
He averaged 9.3 yards every time he threw the ball.
Let that sink in. Most quarterbacks are thrilled to hit 8.0. Over 9.0 is legendary territory. It means he wasn't just dinking and dunking to Julio Jones; he was attacking every level of the field with surgical precision. According to Pro Football Reference, his passer rating was a league-leading 117.1. At the time, that was the fifth-highest mark ever recorded in a single season.
He didn't have the "aura" of Aaron Rodgers or the "clutch" narrative of Brady that year, mostly because the Falcons had a defense that could be... let’s call it "generous" with points. But Ryan dragged them. He threw touchdown passes to an NFL-record 13 different receivers. Think about that. He wasn't just force-feeding a superstar. He was making Taylor Gabriel and Aldrick Robinson look like Pro Bowlers.
Was Tom Brady Actually the 2016 MVP?
This is the argument that won't die. You’ll hear it in sports bars from Boston to Bristol. Tom Brady played 12 games because of the "Deflategate" suspension. In those 12 games, he was nearly flawless. 28 touchdowns. Only two interceptions.
He was brilliant. Truly.
But the mvp for nfl 2016 is a full-season award. Availability is a skill, or at least a requirement for a resume. When you miss 25% of the season, your margin for error is zero. Ryan played the full 16. He led the league’s highest-scoring offense—a unit that put up 540 points, tied for the eighth-most in NFL history at that time.
The Patriots went 3-1 without Brady. They were a well-oiled machine regardless of who was under center. Jimmy Garoppolo and Jacoby Brissett kept the ship upright. Could the Falcons have survived four games without Ryan? Probably not. Matt Schaub was the backup. No disrespect to Schaub, but the 2016 Falcons were built on the premise of Ryan’s ability to manipulate safeties at the line of scrimmage.
The Derek Carr Factor
Before he got hurt against the Colts, Derek Carr was the sentimental favorite. He had that "it" factor. He was leading fourth-quarter comebacks every other week. The Raiders were finally relevant again, and Carr was the face of the resurgence.
His stats didn't touch Ryan's, though. Carr was great, but Ryan was historic. Carr finished with 28 touchdowns and 6 interceptions. Solid. Pro Bowl level. But when you compare 7.0 yards per attempt to Ryan’s 9.3, the gap becomes a canyon. Carr was a great story. Ryan was a great player.
✨ Don't miss: Why the 2006 Green Bay Packers Matter Way More Than You Think
The Kyle Shanahan Influence: Credit or Context?
You can’t talk about Ryan’s MVP season without talking about the "Shanahan Effect." Kyle Shanahan’s zone-run scheme combined with a devastating play-action passing game made life easier for Ryan. It’s a fact. But "easier" doesn't mean "easy."
Running that offense requires a quarterback who can process information at light speed. Ryan had to identify the "Mike" linebacker, check the protection, and then execute deep-over routes that required perfect timing. If the ball is a tenth of a second late, it’s a pick or a hospital ball for the receiver.
Ryan hit those throws every single time.
The synergy between play-caller and player was perfect. It was a symbiotic relationship where Ryan’s veteran savvy allowed Shanahan to be as aggressive as he wanted. People use Shanahan's success with other QBs to diminish Ryan, but look at what happened later. Jimmy Garoppolo didn't put up 9.3 yards per attempt. Brock Purdy came close years later, but Ryan was doing it with a far less consistent defensive supporting cast.
Why the MVP Award Matters for Ryan’s Legacy
History hasn't been kind to Matt Ryan. The Super Bowl loss defines him for the casual fan. But winning the mvp for nfl 2016 puts him in a very exclusive club. It’s the "Gold Jacket" validation.
When you look at his career totals—over 62,000 passing yards—he’s statistically one of the greatest to ever do it. The MVP is the peak of that mountain. It proves that for one specific window of time, he was the best football player on the planet. Better than Brady. Better than Rodgers. Better than Brees.
There’s this weird tendency to think MVPs should only go to the guys who win the ring. That’s not what the award is. It’s a regular-season honors list. Ryan’s 2016 season was a clinic in pocket navigation and ball placement. He was rarely sacked because his internal clock was ticking perfectly. He manipulated defenders with his eyes. He played the game like a grandmaster plays chess.
✨ Don't miss: What Really Happened With the Chapecoense Air Crash: A Tragedy That Changed South American Football
Key Takeaways for Evaluating MVP Candidates
If you're trying to figure out how the voters landed on Ryan back then, or how they choose winners now, look for these specific traits. These are the "Ryan Pillars."
- Efficiency over Volume: Total yards are great, but yards per attempt tells you how much a QB is actually stressing a defense. Look for guys hovering above 8.5.
- Distribution: Can the QB win without their WR1? Ryan’s 13 different TD targets remains a gold standard for "making everyone better."
- Point Differential: The Falcons had to score. Their defense was young and often struggling. Ryan didn't have the luxury of playing "safe" football.
- Consistency: Ryan didn't really have a "dud" game in 2016. He was remarkably steady from September to January.
Next Steps for Football Historians and Fans
To truly understand why that season was so special, you have to go back and watch the tape—specifically the Week 4 game against the Carolina Panthers. Ryan threw for 503 yards. Julio Jones had 300 receiving yards. It was a demolition of a defending NFC champion defense.
Check out the "All-22" footage if you can find it. Watch Ryan's feet. They never stop moving. He’s always balanced, always ready to fire.
The 2016 MVP race wasn't just a statistical oddity. It was the culmination of a decade of work by a guy who was often overshadowed by the "Big Three" of his era. Ryan earned that trophy. And no matter what happened in Houston on a Sunday in February, those 16 games of perfection are carved in stone.
Dig into the Adjusted Net Yards per Pass Attempt (ANY/A) for that season. You'll find Ryan at 9.03. To put that in perspective, Patrick Mahomes' best season (2018) was 8.89. Ryan was playing at an alien level. Don't let the memes tell you otherwise. Use the Pro Football Reference "Play Index" to compare Ryan's 2016 to other MVP seasons; you'll see he stacks up against almost anyone in the modern era.
👉 See also: NASCAR Start Times Today: Why the Schedule Always Seems to Change
Check the film, look at the EPA (Expected Points Added), and acknowledge that for one year, Matt Ryan was the undisputed king of the league. That's how you evaluate a legacy. Stop looking at the ring finger and start looking at the tape. It doesn't lie.