There have been a number of NFL quarterbacks that have used their platform to stand in solidarity with the African American community following the death of George Floyd. Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan is now doing what he can to play his part in sparking a change.

Ryan has since established a GoFundMe fundraiser with the goal of advancing lives in the underserved communities of Atlanta, via ESPN's Vaughn McClure:

“Last week I made a commitment to listening and learning, and one of the messages that hit home for me was the difference between reacting to a situation and responding to a situation,” Ryan said in a statement. “For far too long, I have reacted to social injustice with empathy and silent support but failed to follow through with active support. I feel the time has come to RESPOND. For ALL of us to respond.

“I see my city hurting, which is why I’m starting a fundraiser to help improve conditions for people of color in the city of Atlanta. . . . Over the next few weeks, months I’m going to listen to the needs of the black community and get guidance on how I can be most impactful. I’m going to get input from local grassroots organizations as well as community leaders who are committed to making change.”

Ryan has set the fundraiser goal to $2 million to represent the No. 2 jersey that he wears on the field. His statements and actions have earned him plenty of praise from black teammates that are relying on their white counterparts to take a stand alongside them.

Although teams around the league are in the midst of preparing for the 2020 NFL season under unprecedented circumstances, the latest incidents of racial injustice has clearly become a priority. Those like Ryan are now adamant about taking action rather than just simply staying aware of the issues.

Ryan's actions have come in stark contrast to some of the other quarterbacks around the league such as the New Orleans Saints' Drew Brees and the Buffalo Bills' Jake Fromm. While Brees has since walked back on his statements regarding player protests during the national anthem, Fromm has also issued an apology for his thoughts on gun owner clientele.