Texas football is on the rise. And why not? They are heading into the 2025 college football 2025 season with a Heisman trophy contender in quarterback Arch Manning. For most analysts, he is also projected to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Despite that, head coach Steve Sarkisian’s ability to lead the Longhorns to a national championship is still up for debate. However, Matt Ryan, former MVP and Falcons quarterback, acknowledges Sarkisian’s coaching brilliance and also sheds light on how Manning will handle the expectations that come with his famous last name.
Matt Ryan Shares Strong Takes on Arch Manning’s Future, Sarkisian’s Leadership
Former NFL quarterback Matt Ryan has made his stance on Texas HC Steve Sarkisian and QB1 Arch Manning crystal clear. In a recent conversation with Bob Ballou, Ryan reflected on his time with Sarkisian when he was the offensive coordinator for the Atlanta Falcons and shared his thoughts on Manning’s future at Texas.
Ryan praised Sarkisian’s coaching ability, stating, “I love Sark, know, two of the best years I had in the NFL were with him as our offensive coordinator. So he’s done a tremendous job at Texas. They were a sleeping giant, so I’m excited to see where they go. A lot of hype around this team this coming year, so it’s going to be fun to watch.”
“I love Sark … I believe he’s the guy to bring a national championship to UT.”
I caught up with former Falcons QB Matt Ryan and found out what impressions Steve Sarkisian left on him in their time together in Atlanta – and how he thinks Arch Manning will handle expectations.… pic.twitter.com/EYtzsTZeEN
— Bob Ballou (@BobBallouSports) June 5, 2025
Ryan also highlighted Sarkisian’s ability to evaluate talent and develop quarterbacks, which has been evident in his work with Quinn Ewers and now Manning.
“He’s super sharp, you know, when it comes to kind of understanding players that he has, how to best use their skill sets, evaluating talent. Those were all things that jumped off the page to me when we were together. But I think it’s the ability to teach too, right? I learned so much from him in the two years we were together,” Ryan explained.
As quarterback of the Atlanta Falcons, Ryan got the opportunity to work with Sarkisian first-hand. The current Longhorns leader was the offensive coordinator for the team for two seasons from 2017 to 2018.
As for Manning, Ryan believes the young quarterback is well-prepared for the expectations that come with his name. He also credits the strong family around him—Peyton, Eli, Cooper, and his grandfather—for helping him stay focused under immense pressure.
“I think, you know, he’s got some good mentors in his uncles and his dad and his grandfather,” he said.
“And I think, you know, that family has done an incredible job of keeping their focus on the things they need to focus on. Right. And that’s going out there and playing well. And I think that’s what Arch will do. It seems like a mature young man and a guy that has his head on right.”
The 21-year-old turned heads with his strong showing in Texas’s Orange-White Spring Game. He went 19-of-25 for 355 yards, throwing three touchdowns and just one interception.
RELATED: ‘There’s Nowhere Else I Want to Be’ — Arch Manning Breaks Silence on Becoming Face of Texas Football
He also showed impressive speed and movement on the field. However, some Texas fans had questions about how Coach Sarkisian managed Manning’s playing time.
Those doubts are fading fast. Archie will be the starting quarterback for the Longhorns this season. Now, all eyes are on Sarkisian to guide the former New Orleans standout and push Texas forward. There’s no room for mistakes this season. The stakes are high.
Still, Matt Ryan’s strong belief in both Sarkisian and Manning hints at something big on the horizon. Texas might be ready for a breakthrough.
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