What's next for QB Matt Ryan after being benched by Colts?

Quarterback Matt Ryan is a former MVP and potential Hall of Famer. Now, though, he's a benched starter. 

His stint in Indianapolis with the Colts has come to an abrupt halt, with Sunday's 19-10 loss to the Tennessee Titans all the team needed to pull the plug on Ryan's time under center. 

The Colts will try out QB Sam Ehlinger for the rest of the year, leaving Ryan and his lofty contract on the sideline. 

After spending 14 seasons with the Atlanta Falcons and one ongoing with the Colts, the Boston College alum will have to figure out what his next move is. 

Ryan could step away from the game after this year after what's been a stellar run for the quarterback. He won MVP with the Falcons after the 2016 season and won a conference title that year. He almost won a Super Bowl, too, but you know how that ended. 

He's going to go down as the best Falcon arguably in the team's history, and rarely do quarterbacks get to ride off into the sunset like John Elway and Peyton Manning. Most, sadly, have their careers end like this. 

The Colts will likely make that decision for him with a cut next spring anyhow. 

He could also be a trade candidate, but his hefty salary could forbid it. 

If the San Francisco 49ers are done with Jimmy Garoppolo after a lackluster start, Ryan could reunite with head coach Kyle Shanahan in the Bay Area and have a much better offensive line protecting him. 

If he's willing to go to his former archrival, the New Orleans Saints might also be interested in his services for the rest of the year with QBs Jameis Winston and Andy Dalton not getting it done in the Big Easy and the NFC South still wide open.

No matter what happens, Ryan's days appear to be numbered as a starter in the NFL. At the very least, his locker in Indianapolis should be empty sooner than later.