Jessie Bates III holds the SS · Starter spot in Atlanta Falcons’s safety room. Where he sits among the room’s front-line roles:

Jessie Bates III played 17 games in 2025 with a 99% snap share.

Jessie Bates III is a safety who was selected by Cincinnati in the second round (54th overall) of the 2018 NFL Draft out of Wake Forest. Over eight seasons with the Bengals and Falcons, he has started all 130 games played, accumulating 809 tackles (533 solo), 70 passes defensed, and 27 interceptions. In 2025, Bates started all 17 games for Atlanta, recording 98 tackles (57 solo), six passes defensed, and three interceptions while earning second-team AP All-Pro honors. His 26 career interceptions rank fourth among active players. He is the only player in the league to record a pick-six in 2023, 2024, and 2025.

Wake Forest2015 – 2017

Bengals2018 – 2022

Falcons2023 — present

CollegeWake ForestDraftRound 2 · No. 54 overall · 2018 · CINAcquiredAcquired from Cincinnati Bengals · drafted thereHometownFort Wayne, IN