Disclaimer: The statements and opinions regarding players and/or potential future players in the article below are those of the AtlantaFalcons.com editorial staff and are not of the Atlanta Falcons' football personnel unless noted in a direct quote.
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — The Atlanta Falcons have released veteran defensive tackle Grady Jarrett, the organization announced Monday. The news was first reported by NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.
Falcons owner Arthur Blank released a statement regarding Jarrett's career with Atlanta.
"Over the past decade, Grady has exemplified true professionalism, leadership and humility while representing both the Falcons and the city of Atlanta," Blank said in a statement. "It has been an honor to witness Grady's growth — not only as a team captain and Pro Bowl player on the field but also as a remarkable individual and family man off the field. Beyond his exceptional skills as a football player, Grady stands as a role model, consistently showing resilience in the face of adversity. His impact reaches far beyond the game — his tenacity and love for the those around him have inspired not only me, but teammates, staff and generations of Falcons' fans alike.
"Grady's unwavering commitment to Atlanta is reflected in his decade-long dedication to giving back to the community, deservingly earning the Falcons' nomination for the prestigious Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award twice. In this business, we are often faced with difficult decisions, and this one is no exception. On behalf of myself, the entire Falcons organization and the city of Atlanta, we honor and thank Grady for his incredible contributions both on and off the field. Grady will forever be part of our Falcons' family, and we will always be here supporting him and wishing him the very best."
The move comes ahead of the start of the NFL's new league year on Wednesday, March 12 at 4 p.m. ET, and creates a significant amount of cap space for Atlanta. By releasing Jarrett, the Falcons save $16.25 million, according to Over the Cap. The move also comes a day after Atlanta reportedly signed left tackle Jake Matthews to a two-year contract extension. Though, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported the Falcons did offer a new deal to Jarrett that would have kept him in Atlanta, but Jarrett "felt more confident in his market value."
Combined, the two transactions give the Falcons flexibility heading into free agency.
This is no easy move for Atlanta to make, however. Jarrett has been consistently pointed to as a consummate team leader, community role model and tireless worker.
As a fifth-round pick for the Falcons in 2015, Jarrett began his career as a rotational piece before bursting onto the scene with a three-sack performance in the 2017 Super Bowl. He then began the best stretch of his career thus far, recording 21.5 sacks and 43 tackles for a loss between 2017-21.
Jarrett played on some of the most successful teams in Falcons history, and was a standout defender for those groups. He made back-to-back Pro Bowls after finishing with a career-high 7.5 sacks in 2019 and four sacks in 2020. Despite lingering questions about Atlanta's defensive line, Jarrett was a consistent solution.
Jarrett, who will be 32 before the start of next season, signed a three-year contract extension during the 2022 offseason and was set to enter the final year of his deal in 2025. Coming off a season-ending ACL injury the year prior, Jarrett started all 17 games for the Falcons in 2024 with 53 tackles, nine tackles for a loss and 2.5 sacks. Atlanta drafted a pair of young defensive linemen in Ruke Orhorhoro and Brandon Dorlus last April, and they figure to see a sizable role increase with Jarrett no longer on the team.
Free agency officially begins at 4 pm ET on Wednesday, March 12 at the start of the new league year. A two-day negotiation period started Monday, March 10. During this period, teams are free to discuss contracts with a free agent's official representation.
