Cherishing Grady Jarrett’s legacy in Atlanta

No matter the circumstances, there was always one guarantee over the last decade when the Atlanta Falcons stepped on the field. Grady Jarrett would play his heart out and make his presence felt. Sometimes, the standout plays translated into dominant performances where opposing interior lines couldn’t block him.

Jarrett’s blistering first step and tremendous anticipation off the line of scrimmage overwhelmed offenses. His relentless motor pushed him to greater heights to become one of the top interior tackles in the league for several years.

The highlight-reel moments normally led to the Falcons’ color commentator Dave Archer’s iconic call of “you shall not pass.” That’s how it felt when Jarrett accelerated into the backfield or crushed the pocket. Opponents were in a world of trouble when the two-time Pro Bowler split through a double-team attempt or generated pressure off a vicious move.

Jarrett would produce a sack or tackle for a loss in such a flash that it would require a replay practically every time for viewers to comprehend how he did it. His explosiveness was astonishing for an interior tackle.

The Road to Stardom

For all his stellar performances and longevity, it’s easy to forget how Jarrett was overlooked entering the league. Skeptics questioned whether he could hold up in the trenches as a starter due to being undersized. Those concerns quickly vanished by Jarrett’s second season as he developed into a force for a memorable 2016 Falcons team.

The former fifth-round pick proved his fortitude by playing nose tackle during long stretches. As depleted as the Falcons were on the interior, which proved to be a recurring theme during his career, he took on the challenge and didn’t allow frequent double teams to rattle him despite being undersized for the role.

The resilience to handle a role that didn’t suit his skill set showed what type of a player Thomas Dimitroff and Dan Quinn had identified to trade up for in the 2015 draft. They found a well-rounded, disruptive defensive lineman who could line up in multiple areas and be an impact player. His promising second season culminated in a memorable three-sack performance in the Super Bowl.

That set the stage for a classic third-year breakout season. Jarrett had a career-high 15 tackles for a loss and produced some of his best performances in must-win division games. He was outstanding in victories over Tampa Bay and Carolina to help secure a wild card spot in 2017.

The way Atlanta’s loss to Philadelphia in the 2018 divisional round playoffs ended up being his last playoff appearance is incredibly frustrating for such an exceptional player. As Jarrett ascended into one of the best interior tackles in the league, the team regressed year after year before downward spirals in 2019 and 2020 eventually meant the end of the era.

Quinn and Dimitroff were fired. Franchise cornerstones like Julio Jones, Devonta Freeman, Alex Mack, and Desmond Trufant were no longer on the team. Jarrett had already grown into a leadership role, becoming one of the faces of the franchise. Being at the center of a total rebuild was the next challenge for the 2019 second-team All-Pro.

Heart and Soul

Sacrifices had to be made across the organization following the end of the Quinn and Dimitroff era. Jarrett embraced it by lining up as an edge rusher at times in 2020 and 2021. Playing on defenses with major talent limitations in an organization with limited resources, Atlanta’s well-established fan favorite never complained and continuously played with urgency regardless of how much the team struggled.

His determination and professionalism earned frequent praise from defensive guru Dean Pees, who rarely publicly commended individual players. Many star players in their prime would have requested a trade on a team facing a multiple-year rebuild. Jarrett remained loyal and led by example on and off the field.

SB Nation’s finest Jeanna Kelley interviewed him about his work with the Rally Foundation to raise money for kids fighting cancer. He has been nominated multiple times for the Walter Payton Man of the Year award. Arthur Blank’s recent statement about his humility in representing Atlanta is a testament to his strong character. Jarrett made an impact with everything he did.

At a difficult time for the franchise, he gave the fanbase something to cheer for and be proud of. To establish a standard of excellence, you must have the commitment and desire to be the best. Jarrett proved that with his work ethic by taking the initiative on and off the field. He became the heart and soul of the franchise after Matt Ryan’s departure in 2022.

When Jarrett missed time, his absence was strongly felt. The Falcons’ defense couldn’t maintain their impressive revival in 2023 after their leader tore his ACL in a loss to Tennessee. After playing over 700 snaps for six consecutive seasons, it was an odd sight not to see number 97 in the trenches causing havoc. Suffering a devastating season-ending injury, following years of rarely leaving the field in such a demanding role, was bound to leave lingering effects on the stalwart defensive lineman.

That was evident in 2024 where he wasn’t the same commanding presence that could terrorize opposing offensive lines. Sustaining that standard of excellence can be difficult after a gruesome injury and years of punishment taking on blocks in the trenches. It didn’t help that the organization failed to provide the talent around him to relieve the pressure off him. Jarrett was the lone player coaches had to game plan for when preparing to face the Falcons. Years of being that primary figure without much support will ultimately take its toll.

One of Them Ones

Despite being adored in Atlanta, it wasn’t a major surprise that the franchise moved on from him. After another season of being at the bottom of several defensive categories, major upgrades are needed across the unit. Freeing up over $16 million in 2025 cap room by releasing Jarrett is logical for a team that needs to get younger defensively. Jarrett understands the business side of the sport, knowing his worth in signing a lucrative contract with Chicago about five hours after being released.

In an interview with Falcons’ senior reporter Tori McElhaney, he opened up about always wanting to do his best to let his legacy speak for itself. Between being one of the driving forces behind the defensive success in the great 2016 and 2017 seasons and giving fans something to cherish with his standout performances during dark times from 2018 to 2021, Jarrett will forever be revered. Being the consummate professional who always worked relentlessly to grow and uplift teammates deserves enormous praise.

Stepping up as a leader when it would have been easy to request a trade during the transition from Quinn to Arthur Smith must be acknowledged. Not many players at the peak of their careers would have been willing to stay on a team unable to compete for a playoff spot for multiple seasons.

Most of all, Jarrett is a man of integrity who focused on improvement, never made excuses and did everything he could to help save lives off the field. Raheem Morris said you can’t put a value on what he is and what he represents. What we can do is reflect on the career of a true all-time franchise great by appreciating everything Jarrett did for a decade.