Desmond Ridder

#18 · Atlanta Falcons
Retired 3 Years In The NFL
🏆 2× AAC Offensive Player of the Year (2020, 2021)
Desmond's
HAIR
16.5
HeyTC AI Rating

Questions about Desmond Ridder or the Falcons?

Desmond Ridder Legacy

HEYTC AI
Desmond Ridder was the ultimate journeyman—a guy who proved that grit and versatility matter more than pedigree. The Cincinnati kid who dominated the AAC never quite found his footing as a full-time starter, bouncing from Atlanta to Vegas to Minnesota to Green Bay, but that's not a failure story; it's a survival story. What made Ridder special was his willingness to do whatever a team needed: run the read-option, take a hit, compete in a backup role without ego. He threw for over 4,000 yards across his career with a respectable 82.6 rating, but his real legacy is being the kind of professional quarterback room that wins championships are built around. Not every QB gets the spotlight; some just earn the respect of their peers.

Desmond Ridder Rating Breakdown

Season
Average
Fantasy
Subpar
Playoffs
Non-Factor
Overall
NPC
2 years with the Falcons

Desmond Ridder Career Stats via Wikipedia

4,002 Pass Yards
16 Touchdowns
14 INTs
63.6% Comp %
16.5 HAIR

Frequently Asked Questions About Desmond Ridder

How does Michael Penix Jr compare to Desmond Ridder?

Michael Penix Jr. has leapfrogged Desmond Ridder as Atlanta's undisputed starter, flashing that cannon arm and poise Ridder never quite mustered in 19 Falcons games (84.1 rating, 3,544 yards, 14 TDs). Penix's upside screams franchise savior; Ridder's brief stint—2-2 as a rook, 6-7 in '23—left him as the post-Matty bridge too wobbly to cross.

Is Desmond Ridder in the Pro Football Hall of Fame?

Nah, Desmond Ridder's not in Canton—his 4,002 career yards and 16 TDs over four stops like Falcons, Vikings, and Raiders don't scream Hall material. Think of him more like that reliable backup who pops a few wins, not the bust-the-doors-down legend; the plaque committee's got bigger fish frying.

What is Desmond Ridder doing now in 2026?

By 2026, Ridder's off the grid as an active QB after middling stints with Falcons, Vikings, Raiders—no 2025 snaps listed, just career totals frozen at 4,002 yards. He's likely grinding backup gigs or pivoting to broadcasting, maybe Falcons radio color guy, dishing on young guns like Penix while hitting charity throws for Cincinnati kids.

How would Desmond Ridder perform in today's NFL?

Ridder's game—64% completion, 82.6 career rating, sneaky legs (5 rushing TDs)—would fit snugly in today's pass-happy NFL with its bubble screens and RPOs galore. No more Arthur Smith run-fests; give him a mobile OC and clean pockets, he'd carve mid-tier lines like Geno Smith on a good day, not elite but steady 3,000-yard guy.

How does Desmond Ridder compare to Matt Ryan?

Matt Ryan lapped Ridder as Atlanta's gold standard—42.23 career rating to Ridder's measly 16.51, with Matty's MVP cannon versus Desmond's spot-starter pops (2,836 yards, 12 TDs in '23). Ryan owned Sundays for 14 years; Ridder was the interregnum hiccup, gritty but no Matty magic—think journeyman foil to the Hall-bound king.