The safety became the Falcons' second player on the league's annual list.

Terrin Waack

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. Atlanta Falcons safety Jessie Bates III has been named to the NFL's Top 100 Players of 2025, the league announced Friday.

Bates came in at No. 92.

RELATED:Drake London ranked No. 97 on NFL Top 100

Last season, Bates totaled 102 tackles, 62 of which were solo. He was the only player in the league to have four interceptions and four forced fumbles, signifying his ability to make potentially game-changing plays. Those marks were in addition to a sack, pick-six and fumble recovery.

Among players with at least 500 coverage snaps, Bates ranked fourth in air yards per target with an average of 7.6, and fifth in yards after catch per reception, averaging 2.9.

Bates proved yet again he is an all-around asset in the secondary.

"He's a different kind of guy," Falcons head coach Raheem Morris said this offseason. "The most similar guy I said when I got here was Ronde Barber, when it came to the preparation of it all. Two iPads: one with tape, one with notes, I think. The way he moves in the meeting room, his presence. His ability to lock in and just be present at all times, no matter what he's doing, whether it's a workout, it's individual training or it's in the meeting room, like we talked about. He's a little bit different player when it comes to those things at a high level. Above-the-neck football player that you don't see often and that you hold high regard for."

Bates only joined the Falcons in 2023,so he's made quite the impression in a short time. He previously spent five seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals, who drafted him with a second-round pick in 2018. He only earned his sole Pro Bowl bid after his first season in Atlanta, though.

While Bates may not be the oldest or loudest player in the Falcons' locker room, he is undoubtedly a leader. That was confirmed in 2024 and is anticipated in 2025. This year's level of responsibility may be even higher with the absence of defensive tackle Grady Jarrett, who's now with Chicago Bears. The Falcons need someone to fill that veteran role.

"I don't want to say it's going to be this guy or that guy," Falcons assistant head coach/defense Jerry Gray said. "I want them to be that guy on the football field, and then all of a sudden, it will happen. It's the same thing that Jessie did. When Jessie first got here, he was real quiet, and people were like, 'Oh, I thought he was a leader.' And what happens is, most good leaders are not boastful about it, not voiceful. They go out there and they do their job at a high level. And then the leadership comes to them, especially when you are new to this team."

Leadership not only came to Bates, it's something he embraced and now prioritizes.

"My goal is to be the best leader on this team," Bates said. "All the All-Pro, all the Pro Bowl, all that stuff will come when we win. I truly believe that. That's not a focus of mine, which is fine. Everybody in this building should want to be an All-Pro, Pro Bowler, whatever it is, but I think the team goal means a little bit more at this point. When you're able to share that with people that you come to work with every day, it can mean a lot because you can hold people accountable to what they want to accomplish. That tends to lead to really good teams, so I'm excited for it."

In 2024, the Falcons had four players make the NFL's Top 100 Players list. Offensive guard Chris Lindstrom was No. 88; quarterback Kirk Cousins was No. 81; Bates was No. 74; and safety Justin Simmons, who signed with the Falcons after the series was published, was No. 57.

The remaining players for 2024 will continue to be announced daily by@NFL on X/Twitter.

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