Quarterback Marcus Mariota. Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Falcons sign Marcus Mariota to two-year deal

The Atlanta Falcons were not without a starting quarterback for very long, as they signed Marcus Mariota to a two-year deal shortly after trading franchise icon Matt Ryan. The long-time Falcons signal-caller was traded to the Indianapolis Colts. Ryan, a four-time Pro-Bowler, spent the entirety of his 14-year NFL career with the Falcons, leading them to a Super Bowl in 2016-17.

Mariota, who got his NFL career started with the Tennessee Titans, spent the last two seasons backing up Derek Carr for the Las Vegas Raiders. While he didn't get much playing time in 2021 in part due to injuries, the move to Atlanta offers him a fresh start back into the starter's role. 

The role would also reunite the 2014 Heisman Trophy winner and former first-round pick with head coach Arthur Smith, who he knows from his days with the Titans.

Details of Mariota's two-year deal have not yet been made public.

More must-reads:

TODAY'S BEST
Draymond Green shares tone-deaf take on fines from NBA
USWNT coach Emma Hayes instilling right mindset ahead of Olympics
Winnipeg Jets officially name head coach
Injury bug bites Orioles again as another starting pitcher lands on IL
Yankees' Hal Steinbrenner under fire over Juan Soto comments
Lonzo Ball shares eye-opening details about his knee injury
Jets QB Aaron Rodgers insists focus has been football, not politics
Hurricanes general manager steps down, leaving front office in flux
Travis Kelce echoes Patrick Mahomes in response to controversial kicker
Cowboys QB Trey Lance details how he has changed since 49ers stint
Historic NCAA settlement reached allowing schools to pay players
Celtics dominate Pacers in Game 2, take 2-0 ECF lead
Cavaliers fire head coach J.B. Bickerstaff
Connor McDavid's 2OT goal gives Oilers win over Stars in Game 1
Rob Manfred hints at big change coming to MLB
Scottie Scheffler arrest case takes another weird turn with new video
QB Russell Wilson believes Steelers can 'do something special'
Pacers star suffers injury in ugly Game 2 loss
Watch: Jaylen Brown's big second quarter lifts Celtics to halftime lead
Broncos HC Sean Payton raves about one QB's progress at OTAs

Want more sports news?

Join the hundreds of thousands of fans who start their day with Yardbarker's Morning Bark, the best newsletter in sports.