"Marc Raimondi's first year covering the Falcons was 2024, but it wasn't his first year at ESPN. He joined the company in 2019 and was a top combat sports reporter. He also covered professional wrestling and wrote the book "Say Hello to the Bad Guys: How Pro Wrestling's New World Order Changed America," which was published by Simon & Schuster in 2025."
"The North Carolina natives didn't know each other despite their similar roots. They met for the first time right before they boarded the Atlanta Falcons team plane, en route to the city where they would be teammates. Two players from the same place who play the same position (edge rusher) were both drafted by the same team in the first round -- Walker at 15, Pearce at 26 -- a rarity in the NFL."
"Pearce is tied for the team lead -- and NFL lead for rookies -- with six sacks while Walker has five. In the past 35 seasons, the Falcons have had only three rookies get to five sacks: Walker and Pearce this season and Takkarist McKinley in 2017. One would have to go all the way back to 1988 for the last time the Falcons had a pair of rookies with five or more sac"
Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr. were driven separately to Charlotte hours after the 2025 NFL draft and met for the first time before boarding the Atlanta Falcons team plane. Both North Carolina natives and edge rushers were selected in the first round — Walker at No. 15 and Pearce at No. 26. A friendship formed on the flight and continued after landing in Atlanta. Pearce said, "Knew this was home for us." Pearce leads rookies with six sacks while Walker has five, making them two of only three Falcons rookies to reach five sacks in 35 seasons.
Read at ESPN.com
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