Grady Jarrett Bio
Grady Jarrett (born April 28, 1993) is an American professional football defensive tackle for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Clemson Tigers and was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the 5th round of the 2015 NFL draft. Across his decade-long pro career, Jarrett has developed into one of the league’s most disruptive interior linemen, earning multiple Pro Bowl selections and All-Pro recognition.
Standing 6 feet 1 inch tall and weighing about 133 kilograms, Jarrett combines power, quickness, and technique at the point of attack. After spending his first ten seasons with Atlanta, he joined the Chicago Bears in March 2025 on a multi-year contract, beginning a new chapter in his professional journey.
Early Life and Background
Grady Jarrett was born in Atlanta, Georgia, and raised in nearby Conyers, where his family roots in football run deep. His father, Jessie Tuggle, played linebacker for the Atlanta Falcons from 1987 to 2000, anchoring the defense for more than a decade and earning the nickname “The Hammer.” Growing up around the game, Jarrett absorbed lessons about toughness, preparation, and professionalism that shaped his approach to the sport.
He attended Rockdale County High School, where he was a two-time all-state selection and a four-year starter on both sides of the ball. During his final two high school seasons, Jarrett piled up 198 tackles, 63 tackles for loss, and 27.5 sacks, while also contributing as an offensive lineman. Beyond football, he was a state heavyweight wrestling champion as a senior, finished fourth in the state as a junior, and won a state shot put title with a throw of 15.46 meters, underscoring the athletic foundation that would later define his professional career.
Path to American Football
Despite his standout high school production, Jarrett was rated as a three-star recruit by Rivals.com and the No. 41 defensive tackle nationally by Scout.com. He committed to Clemson University, where he would spend four seasons developing into an NFL prospect. The choice to join the Tigers offered him a strong defensive system and the chance to refine the pass-rushing and run-stopping skills that would eventually define his pro game.
Grady Jarrett Career
Early Career (2015–2016)
Jarrett was selected in the fifth round, 137th overall, by the Atlanta Falcons in the 2015 NFL draft. Atlanta traded two picks to the Minnesota Vikings to move up and select him, signaling the team’s confidence in his potential. He signed a four-year, $2.527 million contract on May 9, 2015, and made an immediate impression as a rookie, playing 15 games and recording his first career sack on December 12 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
In his second season, Jarrett became a full-time contributor, starting 14 of 16 games and tallying 48 tackles, four tackles for loss, nine quarterback hits, and three sacks. By the end of 2016, he had cemented his role as a key piece of the Falcons’ defensive front.
Atlanta Falcons Breakthrough (2017–2019)
Jarrett’s career-defining moment came during Super Bowl LI against the New England Patriots, where he sacked Tom Brady three times, tying a single-game Super Bowl sack record. Despite the 34–28 overtime loss, his performance announced his arrival as an elite interior defender. In 2017, he started all 16 games, posting career highs at the time with 55 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, 13 quarterback hits, and four sacks.
The 2018 season brought further recognition. In Week 15, Jarrett earned NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors after recording seven tackles, two sacks, and a forced fumble in a 40–14 win over the Arizona Cardinals. He closed the year with then career highs of six sacks and three forced fumbles, setting the stage for a major contract decision.
On March 4, 2019, the Falcons placed the franchise tag on Jarrett, and he signed a four-year, $68 million extension on July 15, 2019, with $42.5 million guaranteed, making him the third highest paid defensive tackle in the league. He responded with a career-best 7.5 sacks and 69 tackles, earning his first Pro Bowl invitation on December 17, 2019, and a second-team All-Pro selection on January 3, 2020.
Atlanta Falcons Continued Tenure (2020–2024)
Jarrett earned his second consecutive Pro Bowl nod in 2020 and was ranked 51st by his peers on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2021. The following season, he started all 17 games, finishing with 59 tackles and one sack, then agreed to a three-year extension worth up to $67 million in May 2022.
Injuries interrupted his 2023 campaign when he tore his ACL in Week 8 against the Tennessee Titans, ending his season with 23 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and eight quarterback hits. Healthy again in 2024, Jarrett started all 17 games and recorded 2.5 sacks and 53 combined tackles. Atlanta released him on March 10, 2025, closing a ten-year run with the franchise.
Chicago Bears Era (2025–Present)
On March 12, 2025, Jarrett signed a three-year, $43.5 million contract with the Chicago Bears, joining a defense looking to bolster its interior pass rush and run defense. The signing reunited him with a familiar scheme fit and gave the Bears a proven veteran presence up front.
Driving Style and Strengths
Jarrett is known for his explosive first step, strong hands, and relentless motor at the line of scrimmage. He excels at disrupting both the run and the pass, with the quickness to pressure quarterbacks from the interior and the leverage to anchor against double teams. His football intelligence and veteran leadership have made him a tone-setter in the locker room.
Notable Events and Milestones
Highlights of Jarrett’s career include his three-sack performance in Super Bowl LI, his first-team All-ACC recognition at Clemson in 2014, two Pro Bowl selections in 2019 and 2020, and his second-team All-Pro honor in 2019. He has also appeared on the NFL Top 100 Players list multiple times, peaking at No. 51 in 2021.
Grady Jarrett Career Wins
While statistics for defensive tackles are not measured in traditional wins, Grady Jarrett has built a resume defined by disruptive plays, signature postseason performances, and sustained excellence. His three-sack game in Super Bowl LI and his 2019 career-best 7.5-sack season stand as the statistical cornerstones of his career achievements.
NFL Highlights
Across his ten seasons with the Atlanta Falcons, Jarrett amassed consistent production, including a 2019 season that featured 7.5 sacks, 11 tackles for loss, and two forced fumbles. His 2018 Week 15 performance against the Cardinals earned him NFC Defensive Player of the Week, and his 2017 campaign produced 15 tackles for loss and 13 quarterback hits, both career highs at the time.
Other Wins & Performances
At the college level, Jarrett earned first-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference honors in 2014 after recording 73 tackles and 1.5 sacks in his senior season at Clemson, capping four years of steady development with the Tigers.
Grady Jarrett Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Grady Jarrett comes from one of the most recognized football families in Georgia. His father, Jessie Tuggle, was a longtime Atlanta Falcons linebacker and a key figure in the franchise’s history. His brother, Justin Tuggle, is a former member of the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League, extending the family’s reach across professional football. Jarrett also maintains a close relationship with NFL legend Ray Lewis, whom he refers to as his “uncle,” though the two are not biologically related.
Personal Life
Jarrett’s connection to the Atlanta area has remained strong throughout his career, with Conyers, Georgia, serving as a longtime home base. During the second day of the 2015 NFL draft, his house in Conyers partially burned down in an electrical fire, with nearly 50 friends and family members inside at the time. No injuries were reported, and the Falcons drafted him the next day, immediately sending him team gear in a gesture that reflected the bond between player and organization.
2025 Season Performance
Grady Jarrett enters the 2025 NFL season as a foundational piece of the Chicago Bears’ defensive front, signed to a three-year, $43.5 million contract in March 2025. The Bears added him with the expectation that his proven ability to pressure the passer and stop the run would elevate a young, retooled defense. His presence is expected to provide veteran leadership and a high floor for the team’s interior line play.
For Chicago, the 2025 campaign represents a fresh start for Jarrett after a decade in Atlanta, and he will look to log one of his most productive seasons in several years. After an injury-shortened 2023 and a steady 2024, health and consistency will be central themes of his year. Pairing his skill set with the Bears’ defensive scheme offers a clear opportunity for him to remain a disruptive force well into his thirties.
If Jarrett stays healthy and productive, he could add to his career sack total, contend for another Pro Bowl invitation, and serve as a stabilizing force during Chicago’s broader defensive turnaround. His combination of experience, technique, and intensity makes the 2025 season a pivotal chapter in a career already defined by postseason heroics and Pro Bowl accolades.