Monday night's season opener against the Vikings will be unlike any other defensive tackle Grady Jarrett has experienced since entering the NFL a decade ago.
After spending his first 10 seasons playing for the Falcons, Jarrett is beyond eager to don a Bears uniform for the first time in a regular season game.
"I'm more excited than ever," Jarrett told ChicagoBears.com. "I'm super excited to go out there and start my chapter as a Chicago Bear and also get this team on the right track starting forward. I couldn't be more excited; I've just got to simmer and wait until Monday and let it all loose Monday night."
Even 11 years in, the thrill of opening an NFL season "never gets old" to Jarrett.
"If it ever gets old, it's time to hang it up because every time I get to step on that field, it's a blessing," he said. "I love it now more than ever and I don't plan on stopping any time soon. I'm excited and I'm ready to give these fans and my teammates and coaches everything I've got."
Jarrett blossomed into an elite player with the Falcons. A 2015 fifth-round pick out of Clemson, he has appeared in 152 games with 137 starts, registering 496 tackles, 77 tackles for loss, 36.5 sacks, five forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries.
Jarrett was named to the Pro Bowl in 2019 and 2020 and has played in every game in five of the last six seasons. Last year the 6-1, 294-pounder recorded 53 tackles, nine tackles-for-loss and 2.5 sacks while appearing in all 17 contests.
A highly respected team leader, Jarrett was twice named the Falcons' nominee for the prestigious Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award. He was considered the heart and soul of Atlanta's defense and has already established himself as a leader with the Bears, being named one of five season-long captains.
"Grady, his résumé speaks for itself," said linebacker Tremaine Edmunds. "That's a guy that has been doing it for a long time. Just the way that he handles himself as a pro, his communication, it not just helps himself but helps the young guys around him. They see what it takes to be able to play a long time, to be able to have success."
"He's a leader on the field," said third-year defensive tackle Gervon Dexter Sr. "He communicates very well. Sometimes, Grady knows what's about to happen based on formation and stuff like that before it happens. So, just having a guy like that beside me, there's been times where he'll tell me, 'Hey G, this is about to happen,' and now I can play even faster and make plays from it."
Jarrett's energy and enthusiasm are contagious.
"He's loud every single time," said nickel back Kyler Gordon. "He's in what, Year 11? He's hustling to the ball. He watches all the film. He's one of the first guys running. His motor hasn't stopped, and it's just motivating to see that he practices everything he preaches. To have a vet come in and lead the way like that and show by example, he is motivating everybody."
Joining a defense that boasts playmakers at all three levels, Jarrett believes that the sky is the limit for the unit.
"We've got a lot of potential, but we've got to go out there and execute and do what we need to do to be a top unit in the league," he said. "We've got to go earn it. We can be as good as we want to be, but it's going to take a lot of work and dedication on a daily basis to be able to achieve that."
