The Atlanta Falcons came into the 2025 season with high hopes and a roster that looked, on paper, ready to challenge for the NFC South. But instead of a playoff push, they’ve found themselves stuck in a season defined by missed opportunities, injuries, and inconsistency.
At 5-9 and officially out of postseason contention, the year has been anything but what fans envisioned. Still, amid the disappointment, one part of this team has quietly-and impressively-turned a major corner: the pass rush.
Let’s be clear-this wasn’t by accident. The Falcons made it a point last offseason to fix a pass rush that had been among the league’s worst.
In 2024, they managed just 31 sacks, ranking 31st out of 32 teams. That kind of production simply doesn’t cut it in today’s NFL, especially when you’re trying to build around a young core.
So Atlanta got aggressive. Really aggressive.
They used the 15th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft to bring in Jalon Walker, a dynamic edge rusher with explosive traits. Then, they doubled down, packaging their 2026 first-round pick to move up and grab James Pearce at No.
- Two first-rounders.
Both edge rushers. That’s not just a commitment-that’s a mission.
And the early returns? They’re already paying off.
Through 15 weeks, the Falcons have racked up 48 sacks-good for second in the entire NFL. That’s a staggering jump from where they were just a season ago.
They’re right behind the Broncos in total sacks, and while that surge hasn’t translated into wins yet, it’s a clear sign that Atlanta’s defensive front is no longer a liability. In fact, it’s becoming a strength.
Pearce, in particular, has been a revelation. He leads the team with eight sacks, showing off the kind of bend and burst that made him a coveted prospect.
Right behind him is second-year defensive tackle Brandon Dorlus, who’s taken a big leap with seven sacks of his own. Walker’s chipped in with 5.5 sacks, and eight other Falcons defenders have recorded multiple sacks this season.
That kind of depth and distribution is exactly what you want from a modern pass rush-it’s not just about one guy winning off the edge, it’s about waves of pressure coming from all angles.
Credit also goes to veteran Leonard Floyd, who was brought in during free agency to provide leadership and production. He’s helped stabilize the unit and bring some experience to a group that’s otherwise very young.
And under new defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich, the scheme has clearly clicked. The Falcons are playing faster, more aggressive, and with a confidence we haven’t seen in years on that side of the ball.
What makes this turnaround even more exciting for Atlanta is the age of the players leading it. Pearce, Walker, and Dorlus aren’t just producing now-they’re laying the groundwork for what could be a dominant defensive line for years to come.
This isn’t a one-year flash. It’s the beginning of something that could define the next era of Falcons football.
Of course, there’s still plenty of work to do. Quarterback Michael Penix Jr. is out with a season-ending knee injury, and Kirk Cousins hasn’t provided the spark Atlanta hoped for in his absence.
The offense has struggled to find rhythm, and the coaching staff will likely face some tough questions in the offseason. But if there’s a silver lining to this otherwise frustrating year, it’s that the Falcons finally have a pass rush worth building around.
Now the challenge is to keep building. The defensive front is in place.
The next step? Address the other holes across the roster-and possibly in the coaching staff-with the same urgency and decisiveness they showed on draft night.
Because if the Falcons can match the rest of the team to the standard their pass rush is setting, they might not be far from turning this thing around.