Falcons QB Desmond Ridder changes jersey number

The starting quarterback of the Atlanta Falcons officially has a new jersey number. Desmond Ridder has switched from the No. 4 he wore during his rookie season to the No. 9, which he wore during his college career at Cincinnati.

Ridder, 23, took over as the starting quarterback for the final four games of the 2022 season after the team benched Marcus Mariota. The former third-round pick finished his four-game stretch with 708 passing yards, two touchdowns, zero interceptions and a record of 2-2.

Time for No. 9 pic.twitter.com/5jWyd8Rkv8

— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) April 18, 2023

Falcons head coach Arthur Smith recently gave Ridder a vote of confidence, saying he expects the young QB to “take the next step” in 2023. Ridder said he approached the offseason with the mentality that he was going to be the starter regardless of what the team did, ESPN’s Michael Rothstein shared on Twitter.

Falcons QB Desmond Ridder said he entered the offseason with the thought he’d be the guy for Atlanta.

That was always going to be his approach — had been from when he took over the starting gig last December.

— Michael Rothstein (@mikerothstein) April 18, 2023

The team has upgraded its defense and signed wide receivers Scotty Miller and Mack Hollins in free agency. Ridder should have every chance to succeed this season, assuming Atlanta doesn’t draft a quarterback in Round 1.