New Falcons QB Marcus Mariota has to 'carve my own path' after Matt Ryan's run in Atlanta

ATLANTA — The Falcons need a full-time starting quarterback other than Matt Ryan for the first time since the 2007 season, and Marcus Mariota understands the significance of potentially being that replacement.

«Those are big shoes to fill, no doubt,» Mariota said Friday. «I think, for me, something I definitely learned over the course of my career is that you can't compare yourself to other people. What Matt did here, what he's accomplished here, is truly greatness, and for me, I just have to kind of carve my own path.

»I appreciate what he's done, appreciate what he's been for this organization, and the best thing that I can do is try to put my best foot forward and be the best player that I can be."

The 28-year-old Mariota is walking into a potential starting role — although he said he hasn't been guaranteed the job — for the first time since the 2019 season, when he was the quarterback for the Tennessee Titans and their then-offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, who is now the Falcons' coach.

Mariota was benched in favor of Ryan Tannehill that season and eventually moved on to the Las Vegas Raiders, where he backed up Derek Carr for two years. He played in 11 games over the past two seasons, completing 60% of his passes for 230 yards, a touchdown and an interception.

The No. 2 pick in the 2015 draft, Mariota spent five years with the Titans, playing in 63 games with 61 starts and completing 62.9% of his passes for 13,207 yards, 76 touchdowns and 44 interceptions.

His final season with the Titans was a struggle, though, as he completed 59.4% of his passes for 1,203 yards with seven touchdowns and two interceptions in seven games. By the end of his time with the Titans, Mariota said he was «mentally and physically beat