Entering the 2026 season, Atlanta Falcons Ian Cunningham talked about bringing in players who raise the floor and shared a winning mentality, players all across the roster have started to embody. From the best guys on the roster to the practice squad guys signed days before the season, it's all there.
There is also a next-man up mentality brewing though. Without Yasir Abdullah and Za'Darius Smith, who was sidelined with a concussion, the Falcons needed to rely more on Jared Ivey in the loss to the Ravens, even though he didn't see the field all that much in Weeks 1 through 4.
Although Ivey's chances in the NFL have been slim before the Falcons picked him up, Ivey had only two career games played. Now with the Falcons, he's been involved in four out of their five games, but his reps have been up and down. Atlanta gave Jared Ivey a 27% snap share in Week 1 against the Steelers but after a disappointing loss, his reps dwindled, as Abdullah start demanding more of a role.
Ivey was left with 0 snaps in Week 2, followed by only six snaps in Week 3, and 6% of snaps in Week 4. Then came the injury news. Abdullah was placed on IR and for Ivey, it was now his shot to bounce back to an essential piece of the Falcons roster next to Cameron Thomas and Samson Ebukam.
But before I jump into his performance in Week 5, I want to point out where he comes from, and why he's not only been a great depth add, but also brings a winning and family-first mindset to the locker room.
Georgia native Jared Ivey had a full circle moment coming back to Atlanta
Jared Ivey grew up in Georgia, setting his early foundation at North Gwinnett High School in Suwanee,. He reminds me of Drake London in his high school years, playing both basketball and football. His large frame and power play, combined with his success in basketball, led to a lot of attention, but even with multiple division one offers for basketball, Jared Ivey chose to opt for football full time. In 2020, he committed to Georgia Tech, as a four-star defensive end, according to 247Sports.
For two seasons, Ivey was a Yellow Jacket, recording a total of 40 tackles, and 1.5 sacks, before transferring to Ole Miss in 2022. This was an early chance for him to prove himself as a standout player, and that he did. Fully committing to the defensive edge position, Ivey earned himself First-Team All-SEC and Peach Bowl Defensive MVP honors in 2023, followed by Third-Team All-SEC in 2024. His totals for college equated to 58 games played, 43 starts, 165 total tackles, 33.5 tackles for loss, 17.5 sacks, 5 fumble recoveries, 4 forced fumbles, and 1 defensive touchdown.
Though he'd would go undrafted during the 2025 NFL Draft, Ivey got picked up by the Seattle Seahawks shortly after. During that season, he participated in only 2 games all season, but learned the essentials of winning, while being part of one of the best lines in the league. The Seahawks went on to win the Super Bowl that year, bringing Ivey's journey with them to an end soon after.
Meanwhile the Falcons faced edge depth problems, as James Pearce Jr. was handed an eight-game suspension, and an ACL tear for Georgia local, Jalon Walker ended his season early. After roster cuts, Cunningham--who had been interested in bringing in Georgia natives with a winning mentality--gave the 24-year-old the call, flying him down to Atlanta, back where he grew up, claiming him off of waivers where he was signed to the active roster.
A lifelong dream turned into reality for Jared Ivey as he shined in Week 5
Jared Ivey's a community man, it means a lot to him to give back to the people who gave up so much for him. According to The Commercial Dispatch, "He knows he's where he's at because people poured into him. And he has every intention of pouring it back into other people." It just so happens that his people live in Georgia. Upon hearing about his return home, family members and community sent their support for him, letting Atlanta know they didn't make a mistake on this signing. But this 6-foot-6 defensive edge had to put prove it on the field. This is where Week 5 comes in.
In Week 5, Ivey didn't disappoint the family or fans. Ivey matched his career high of 18 snaps during the game, collecting his first sack. He also notched two more tackles, and got really close to crushing a couple screens, although not everyone can bring down Derrick Henry. Either way he ranked at an 82.7 PFF grade on the game, which sat at the highest on Atlanta's defense in Week 5.
No matter what you think, Ivey's building a case for more snaps going forward. He's gradually earning a legitimate role as a rotational edge in Atlanta, and now he's likely looking forward to Week 6, against the Chicago Bears, where he can yet again, take another step towards a game nobody will forget.
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