First-year Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris had very high praise for a longtime Falcon – and veteran Clemson pro.

In a recent press conference, Morris compared former Tiger defensive lineman Grady Jarrett to legendary Los Angeles Rams defensive lineman Aaron Donald, the three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year and eight-time first-team All-Pro who retired after 10 seasons (2014-23).

Having coached Donald when he was the Rams’ defensive coordinator from 2021-23, Morris sees similarities between Donald and Jarrett.

“With Grady, that passion and what he is able to do just with the look in his eye is really special,” Morris said. “With those young guys and being able to train those guys and talk to those guys last night and be able to address the room and just to be here, his presence is huge. It’s really Aaron Donald-like.

“And I don’t want to be disrespectful to Aaron. We talked about this a lot when we were together and how much respect we have for Grady and how much respect he had for Grady. But that presence is really special when you have that in that room.”

Jarrett’s 2023 season was cut short when he tore his ACL during the Falcons’ Week 8 game against the Tennessee Titans. He has been rehabbing from the injury and is expected to be ready when the Falcons begin the 2024 season against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sept. 8.

“With Grady, it’s really funny — it’s not even a conversation, it’s almost a look in his eye,” Morris said of how hungry Jarrett is to get back on the field.

Jarrett started all eight games he played in for the Falcons last season, recording 23 tackles (two for loss), 1.5 sacks, eight quarterback hits and two pass breakups.

A two-time Pro Bowler and 2019 second-team All-Pro, Jarrett has posted 443 tackles (68 for loss), 34 sacks, 114 quarterback hits, six pass breakups, five forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries across 135 games (120 starts) in his highly productive NFL career from 2015-23.

The 31-year-old has been with the Falcons since they selected him in the fifth round (137th overall pick) of the 2015 NFL Draft.

–Photo courtesy of Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

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