This offseason, major changes occurred across the Atlanta Falcons' defensive line. The most shocking of which was Atlanta releasing veteran defensive tackle Grady Jarrett. The Atlanta native had been with the franchise since he was drafted in the fifth round of the 2015 NFL Draft.
During his ten seasons with the Falcons, Jarrett became a favorite within the community because of his charitable acts. This includes his Grady Gives charity that raises awareness for anti-bullying, literacy Awareness, and empowering youth and young adults to find their Purpose in Life.
In addition to his work within the community, Jarrett was a favorite within the organization because of his leadership. Though Atlanta needed to cut the 32-year-old for cap reasons, people within the front office have gone on record saying it was a tough decision.
That said, Jarrett's former teammates haven't made many public statements since his departure. That changed on Thursday when A.J. Terrell appeared on The Waterboyz Show. Terrell had this to say about the impact Jarrett's departure had on him.
"It hurt... Being able to play with him [and] see his work ethic, see the stuff he was doing off the field like I'm doing now. See him around his family, I felt like he's a family man just like me, and I think that's why we clicked so quickly... The way he carries himself, the way the city of Atlanta and the whole state of Georgia know what he's about outside of football, and the impact he had on the team, it hurt when the Falcons and him parted ways "A.J. Terrell
A.J. Terrell Sends Heartfelt Message to Former Teammate Grady Jarrett
Terrell's remarks about his former teammate are likely shared among many current Falcons players. Even so, his personal story about how he and Jarrett bonded proves the type of person the franchise and city just lost.
Replacing Jarrett's impact inside and outside the locker room is simply impossible. Nevertheless, Atlanta must find a way to replace his production on the field as he has been their best defensive lineman for the past decade.
Fortunately, the Falcons landed two defensive linemen in the first round this year that they hope can help replace that production. Still, Atlanta is down a leader, and the city lost a huge staple for at least the next few years.