Seattle Seahawks outside linebacker Bruce Irvin says he will be playing for the Atlanta Falcons in 2016.
"I'm going to be in Atlanta next season," Irvin told BlackSportsOnline.com while attending the Eastern Conference semifinals in Atlanta on Wednesday night. "I'm ready."
The Seahawks did not pick up the fifth-year option on Irvin's contract, which would have cost the team $7.8 million in 2016. Irvin is playing this season for $1.6 million.
He sent out a couple of angry tweets last week about the Seahawks not picking up his option.
"Faced way tougher adversity getting outta them streets coming up!" he tweeted. "That's s--- is nothing! F--- THAT OPTION!"
Irvin is from Atlanta and would like to play for new Falcons head coach Dan Quinn, who was the defensive coordinator with the Seahawks before taking the Atlanta job in February.
Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff, addressing rumors during a radio appearance earlier this month, said he hadn't given a second thought to acquiring Irvin because the linebacker is currently under contract.
Irvin was asked Wednesday if he would stay in Seattle if the Seahawks anted up after this season.
"Atlanta is where I want to be," Irvin said. "Believe that."
Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com contributed to this report.