Falcons standout Grady Jarrett toured Atlanta United’s training facility Tuesday to further his goal of learning more about soccer, a sport he said he has watched casually but is intrigued by.
Jarrett spent time touring the facility, talking to some of the academy players and learning their process for advancing to the first team, and watching the first team practice.
“Anybody professional, anything they do, they’re professional for a reason,” Jarrett said. “But going out there seeing them doing drills, I’m like, ‘Yeah, I’ll be probably tapped out.’ You know, what I’m saying? So everything has a trade-off, but it’s a reason why they’re pro at what they do and why I’m a pro.
“If I tried to go out there and do that, I’d probably look like a fool, you know? I’m saying I might do OK, little footwork. It’s probably tough for them to come out here with us too. But I mean, it’s just a mutual respect and just having the opportunity to be here and just be in this environment has meant a lot.”
Jarrett said he if he played, he’d like to be a goal-scorer. But his favorite player when he watches games is the goalkeeper. He got to meet Atlanta United’s Brad Guzan, who it was announced Tuesday would miss at least 10 weeks of action because of a torn MCL suffered in Saturday’s 1-1 draw at NYCFC. Jarrett said Guzan always has a presence in games, and he saw that firsthand Tuesday.
“He just seemed like a captain,” Jarrett said.
Jarrett said the most interesting thing he learned is how the players work their way up through the academy system to try to join the first team.
He said he shared with the players his story about not being highly recruited but still becoming a standout at Clemson before he was selected by the Falcons in the fifth round of the NFL draft and then becoming an All-Pro. He said he advised them that every day matters if their dream is to become a professional athlete.
“At the end of the day, the work that you put in counts, and the work that you don’t put in counts,” he said he told them.
Jarrett didn’t say no when asked if he had an interest in an ownership stake in a soccer team.
“Definitely don’t want to close doors; before you enter into something you want to get knowledge up and experience some things firsthand,” he said. “So that’s kind of what I’m doing, just get my knowledge up and just gain a greater appreciation for the game.”
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Atlanta United’s 2023 MLS schedule
Feb. 25 Atlanta United 2, San Jose Earthquakes 1
March 4 Atlanta United 1, Toronto FC 1
March 11 Atlanta United 3, Charlotte FC 0
March 18 Atlanta United 5, Portland 1
March 25 Columbus 6, Atlanta United 1
April 1 Atlanta United 1, New York Red Bulls 0
April 8 Atlanta United 1, New York City FC 1
April 15 at Toronto FC, 7:30 p.m.
April 23 vs. Chicago Fire FC, 4:30 p.m., FS1
April 29 at Nashville SC, 1:30 p.m., Fox
May 6 at Inter Miami CF, 7:30 p.m.
May 13 vs. Charlotte FC, 7:30 p.m.
May 17 vs. Colorado Rapids, 7:30 p.m.
May 20 at Chicago Fire FC, 8:30 p.m.
May 27 at Orlando City SC, 7:30 p.m.
May 31 vs. New England Revolution, 7:30 p.m., FS1
June 3 at Los Angeles FC, 10:30 p.m.
June 10 vs. D.C. United, 7:30 p.m.
June 21 vs. New York City FC, 7:30 p.m.
June 24 at New York Red Bulls, 7:30 p.m.
July 2 vs. Philadelphia Union, 4 p.m., Fox
July 8 at CF Montreal, 7:30 p.m.
July 12 at New England Revolution, 7:30 p.m.
July 15 vs. Orlando City SC, 7:30 p.m., FS1
Aug. 20 at Seattle Sounders, 10:30 p.m.
Aug. 26 vs. Nashville SC, 7:30 p.m.
Aug. 30 vs. FC Cincinnati, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 2 at FC Dallas, 8:30 p.m.
Sept. 16 vs. Inter Miami CF, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 20 at D.C. United, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 23 vs. CF Montreal, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 4 at Philadelphia Union, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 7 vs. Columbus Crew, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 21 at FC Cincinnati, TBA
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