FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Jessie Bates III did a lot of reading over the offseason. In fact, it was the most the Falcons safety had read in his entire life.
Bates' summer reading list followed a similar theme — leadership and personal development.
"For me, where I'm at in my career, I need to make sure I'm a great leader," Bates said after arriving for training camp. "... I know that's my role."
The safety's favorite book he recently read was a gift from Falcons assistant coach/defense Jerry Gray, "Twin Thieves: How Great Leaders Build Great Team." It's about twin fears, Bates said, the fear of failing and the fear of judgment. He resonated with working through those barriers to become the leader he read about.
Bates enters Year 7 in the NFL and Year 2 in Atlanta. He understands that now is the time to solidify his position as a leader on defense that teammates can look to.
For most of Bates' football career, he was a self-described "guy in the back of the room leading by example." That flipped on its head when Falcons' leader Grady Jarrett went down with a season-ending injury in Week 8 of the 2023 season.
The defensive lineman and Bates were the two defensive captains and instrumental to their unit. Bates realized that responsibility and stepped out of his comfort zone to fill that Jarrett-sized hole as a vocal leader.
Bates set a noteworthy example in his first season with Atlanta, where he recorded a career-high six interceptions and three forced fumbles, translating to a Pro Bowl selection and second-team All-Pro honors.
He's proven he can do it on the field. This upcoming season he felt like he had to be intentional with the interpersonal part from the very beginning. The safety is a veteran in the room with young players DeMarcco Hellams, Richie Grant and Clark Phillips looking up to him.
"Leadership is the biggest thing that I'm really worried about," Bates said. "Leading the guys on and off the field, and I think the rest will fall in line."
And now fresh off a break of reading and resting after the Falcons concluded offseason programming in June, he's excited to implement all that's learned.
"It's almost like a fresh start for you," Bates said. "I woke up this morning like it was a game day. Just the nerves."
