South Atlanta News

Elisha Jarrett looked on with a smile as her son's heart found its home and a familiar, passionate fire lit his eyes.

Between the white lines of the gridiron, Grady Jarrett has always felt at peace in his passion. He's exactly where he's supposed to be.

It's a place – a football field awash with bright lights and big applause – Elisha often finds herself, too.

For nine years, Elisha has followed her son to every stadium — home and away — to watch his professional career unfold with the Atlanta Falcons. Prior to the start of every single game he's played in the red and black, Jarrett finds his mother in the stands. A fist bump is exchanged every time. It's a long-standing pregame tradition between the two.

During this exchange, Elisha gives Jarrett a word.

The words chosen and the meaning behind them vary based on several factors. As a true lover of the game, Elisha will spend hours on end researching the Falcons' upcoming opponent. Once game day arrives, she's well equipped to give Jarrett a word she hopes grounds him for the challenge ahead.

Words and phrases she's used include first-step, get-off, execute, persevere, hands, endurance and so many more.

Words – especially when spoken – have the power to anchor, enthuse and tear down. They evoke emotion. They convey feelings and make the abstract concrete.

When it comes to contextualizing what Year 10 means for a young man from Conyers, Georgia who has spent a decade with the team that chose him, there's only one word that appropriately captures the feeling: Renaissance.

A massive revival of public interest in art, architecture, science and literature throughout Europe in the 15th and 16th centuries led to some of history's most important developments.

This period saw William Shakespeare put pen to paper; Michelangelo suspend himself to paint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel; Leonardo Da Vinci complete the Mona Lisa.

Historians look back on this period in awe because of how it shaped humankind and human experience in ways we still feel today. This era is called The Renaissance; it was born out of times people are less likely to remember—the crisis of Late Middle Ages set stage for societal rebirth marked by turmoil sickness loss.

The Renaissance reminds humanity it can pull itself out periods darkness representing revival at core For Grady Jarrett 2024 there nothing except renaissance chasing after year challenge

A season-ending knee injury took ninth season away sent into heightened emotion reflection through changes experienced Looking back though taught much football means special about story isn’t experienced mounting return league average lifespan only years not first last cut short

Special story been mainstay within organization ten years one best position done hometown team Pro Bowls tied Super Bowl record sacks single game named NFL Top list three times Atlanta organization entire career third all-time tackles loss second quarterback hits one away tying John Abraham franchise record tenth sacks Falcons Walter Payton Man Year work communities helped raise

Over ten years names faces organization changed Players entered exited locker room Coaches come gone returned too Only select few names consistent Jarrett’s one them While consistent force Falcons city Atlanta constant presence connection began young boy living just outside Conyers Georgia dreaming seeing name NFL locker Not only reach dream cemented over ten years work From beginning sought strengthen foundational connection felt toward surrounding area “You always felt like he was heart soul you just didn’t know what yet” Raheem Morris said first few years league “It’s really become Atlanta Not even defense goes beyond side ball gone beyond building going outside whole city”

If recent challenges taught anything business NFL goes without matter hard work many years when over doesn’t end everyone else Just life continues “As hard fight make name remembered” said “they’ll forget fast” That reality grueling Cruel even But doesn’t change fact indeed reality If face might well fight “While opportunity best try legendary ones explained Because going come day can’t go more want clear knowing left everything legacy speak itself Legacy works art artist leaves behind Because artist heart Atlanta Falcons No person gets decide legacy become set others dictate remember forget articulate midst building would be? “I have full confidence best always ahead really walking talking working wasn’t great job wouldn’t still sitting right here And damn good job Whether zero tackles zero sacks get ten sacks hundred tackles asked high level Good bad great ugly indifferent same regardless wants people understand chance write little bit own legacy surroundings don’t dictate effort biggest lesson think legacy teach”

This mentality why Morris said try chance surely can’t pick anything even small thing better person player everything bottom line His mother never once missed agrees “Grady going work looking not looking who Reflecting last ten wants son now best version himself aspect life father son football player community advocate philanthropist owner Arthur Blank say confidence set standard probably nobody team works harder probably role model every aspect ask not just field off field folks spend time during life never forget four words response foundation build something touching significant forgotten If ask working dreaming much still left give “I take lot pride comfortable satisfied Year reset Let’s turn up more lot left When said done hopefully another really put forward gave everything part story”

A story legacy prepped ready renaissance if fire eyes anything say about