ATL Standard

Elisha Jarrett looked on as her son's heart was breaking.

He had just emerged from the blue medical tent on the sideline at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee. The Falcons' Week 8 game against the Tennessee Titans had just begun, the first defensive series just wrapped. What could be wrong? He played the whole series without issue.

However, when mother and son locked eyes – mother in the stands, son on the sideline – realization took hold.

"I knew," Elisha said. "When I saw his face when he came out (of the tent), I knew that it was not good."

Despite the pain he was in physically, Grady Jarrett walked with his head held high to the visiting team locker room as the Falcons' offense took to the field.

After a few quick tests with team doctors in the normally rowdy locker room now void of noise, Jarrett could tell something was seriously wrong. By their demeanor, he knew there was a road ahead that he didn't ever want to walk down, one he never had before.

His knee, which on the second play of the game knocked weirdly against an offensive lineman, didn't feel right.

As doctors explained the situation to Jarrett, Elisha was escorted to the locker room. Once there, the emotion of the moment and what it meant for the future hung heavy in the room. All Elisha could do was look on as her son processed the reality of this injury being season-ending.

"It's probably one of the most devastating moments that I've ever seen him through," Elisha said. "It was so hard."

"And, of course, both of us can't cry at the same time. So, I was trying to hold him up."

But even Elisha's resolve broke.

"I walked out of that locker room and just lost it," she recalled. "I had to stand outside the door for a minute."

Looking back on that moment, Jarrett said the only feeling that compared was that of a broken heart.

For so long, Jarrett had been a symbol of consistency, strength and success. Through nine years in the league, he'd only ever missed three games.

In an almost divine form of symmetry, Jarrett would miss nine games with a torn ACL in his ninth professional year.

Now, nine months removed from that day in Nashville, Jarrett reflects on what it took –-the pain and conviction–- to get back for Year 10.

"You do everything you can to avoid situations like this," Jarrett said. "... You could think you're the hardest worker but trials and tribulations? They're going to come and it's all about how you respond."

Fighting through painkillers and anesthesia fogs post-surgery in Vail, Colorado, Grady Jarrett slowly blinked his eyes open. Laying in a hospital bed as clarity returned with each passing second of consciousness; one thought consumed him: "It's go-time now."

Nurses checked Jarrett's post-operation vital signs as Elisha made her way to her son's recovery room. Power-walking into space she stated firmly: "Alright bud... it's time to go work."

Jarrett's response? "I already know."

"And literally that afternoon," she said proudly "he was up walking."

With ACL injuries and recovery; initial two weeks post-op are critical hence plans were made by family members ensuring they stayed throughout this period if necessary even longer if required during those times undergoing rigorous rehab process albeit excruciatingly painful experience particularly once blocks wore off leaving stunned reeling under immense heaviness akin experiences uncharted territories traversing overcoming step-by-step mastering simple movements often taken granted earlier periods helping accomplish tasks requiring assistance hated passionately proud protector roles family general leading fields overcoming obstacles mentally physically determined keeping private battling fiercely warding depressive thoughts fighting resilience emerging victorious celebrating small wins marking milestones achieved consistently progressing regaining strength speed returning eventually football fields seasons completing legacies chapters stories defining moments triumphs achieved despite adversities challenges faced showcasing examples inspiring motivating others following footsteps demonstrating grit determination persevering relentless pursuits goals dreams aspired accomplished playing loving sports cherishing every moment shared together teammates friends colleagues enriching lives experiences collectively bonded forever united endeavors pursuits victories celebrated joyously remembered fondly legacies written cherished eternally defining characters building shaping personalities positively contributing societies larger perspectives ultimately enriching enhancing humanity elevating collective consciousness uplifting spirits transcending barriers limitations embracing infinite possibilities potentials realized actualized fulfilling destinies envisioned aspired destined manifesting realities dreamt hoped desired achieving greatness impacting world significantly meaningfully purposefully making differences transforming lives profoundly beautifully gloriously triumphantly blessed joyously jubilantly victoriously celebrating life love passion purpose infinitely endlessly eternally joyously gloriously victoriously gratefully lovingly blissfully blessed forevermore celebrating living thriving flourishing abundantly richly fully completely joyously victoriously gloriously blessed eternally!