HOUSTON -- Matt Ryan has never had much time for critics of his play over the course of his nine-year NFL career. He has the $100 million contract but entered the 2016 playoffs with only one career postseason victory. That didn't exactly translate into elite status for a quarterback, but Ryan wasn't getting caught up in labels.

"It's never been about money," the Atlanta Falcons star told ESPN.com before this season. "I'm not complaining. Money is just one of the things that comes along with it. With that comes added criticism, and there's a certain expectation. What I need to do is do my job as best I can and not worry about what everyone else thinks about what you're getting paid. ... For me, the things that are important are the things that affect the outcome of games. That's what I focus on."

Ryan certainly took his own words to heart and maintained a high level of focus during what turned out to be a career season. The end result was a well-deserved MVP award, announced Saturday, an honor that should silence doubts about whether Ryan is an elite quarterback. His play was the primary reason the Falcons conquered what appeared to be insurmountable odds with the NFL's toughest schedule to finish 11-5, win the NFC South and make it all the way to Super Bowl LI.

Ryan has plenty of reasons to celebrate and pound his chest, but he's never one to be completely satisfied. His individual achievement will be savored by his teammates, coaches and the organization. He has proved worthy of joining the top tier at his position; now his challenge is to prove he can stay there for the rest of his career.

The 31-year-old Ryan certainly doesn't want to be a one-hit wonder. See last season's first-time MVP, Carolina's Cam Newton, whose play plummeted as the Panthers stumbled through 2016 without making the playoffs after losing the Super Bowl. Ryan can't fade into obscurity as Joe Flacco has done the past few seasons after winning a Super Bowl with the Baltimore Ravens.

Ryan has enough talent around him on offense -- not to mention a maturing, fast, and energetic defense -- to make the Falcons a contender for years to come. But he has to be the ringleader, the one who steers what the Falcons call "The Brothership."

Next season might be more challenging, with Ryan on the verge of losing offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan, who is set to become the head coach of the San Francisco 49ers after turning the Falcons into the NFL's top-ranked offense. But Ryan's sharp mind and overall ability should keep the offense flowing no matter who is hired as its next coordinator.

Maybe Ryan will hit 5,000 passing yards next season after falling only 56 yards shy in 2016. Maybe he'll complete almost 70 percent of his passes again. And maybe he'll lead the league in passer rating for a second consecutive season. But more important than any of those individual statistics, Ryan wants the Falcons to continue their winning ways. He wants to put this team in position to win the NFC South title every season, as Carolina was before 2016.

Ryan wants to be an annual championship contender like his Super Bowl LI counterpart, Tom Brady of the New England Patriots.

Being considered an elite quarterback with the likes of Brady, Green Bay's Aaron Rodgers and Pittsburgh’s Ben Roethlisberger is the least of Ryan's concerns. But he shouldn't have to worry about it, if he ever did. He's already there.

He has an MVP trophy -- and, with one more victory, a Super Bowl title -- to prove it.