When news broke that former Atlanta Falcons (current Chicago Bear) star and team captain, Grady Jarrett, would miss the rest of the 2023 NFL season with a torn ACL and meniscus, it hit hard for both the franchise and for Grady himself.
A cornerstone in Atlanta’s locker room and a respected leader across the entire NFL as a 10 year veteran, this wasn’t just a physical setback. It was an emotional and spiritual test.
“It was important for me to fight the feeling of getting into a depressive state,” Grady shared. “I had to know that I was going through this for a reason. As a competitor, I’m not about to let this define me.”
That mindset, grounded in faith, discipline, and resilience, became the foundation for his recovery journey with Accelerate ACL.
The Turning Point: Choosing to Do Things Differently
After surgery confirmed both ACL and meniscus repairs, Grady did what great athletes do: he researched his options.
“I looked up Accelerate ACL and saw them working with everyone from runners to high school athletes to pros,” he said. “If this is something people believe in, why not me? Why not go to a specialist that can help me get maximized to the best?”
From that point forward, everything changed.
Accelerated Recovery: From 6 Weeks Post-Op to Functional Breakthrough
At six weeks post-op, Grady began integrating Accelerate ACL’s virtual and in-person recovery system, combining direct current neuromuscular stimulation with individualized protocols focused on regaining function, symmetry, and confidence.
By week 10, his Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS) scores had already jumped from 35/80 to 59/80, a 65.5% improvement in just four weeks.
In contrast, research on traditional physical therapy ACL programs shows that the average 6–10 week post-op improvement is only about 21%.
By week 10, Grady’s functional performance had already surpassed what most athletes achieve around week 13, a full three weeks ahead of schedule.
Four-Month Strength Metrics: Hitting 9–12 Month “Gold Standard” Benchmarks
The numbers shown below are clearance-level numbers; values that are typically considered the gold standard by surgeons and physical therapists across the world when determining readiness to return to sport.
In most cases, the benchmark for clearance is 90% symmetry or greater across key strength and stability measures. These goals that are usually desired between 9–12 months post-op.
Grady achieved them in just 4 months.
Equally impressive was his IKDC score of 85% and ACL-RSI score of 100%, metrics that reflect not only physical recovery but also mental readiness and confidence in the reconstructed knee.
And as we tell our clients all the time, results like this don’t come from sitting back, going through the motions, or hoping things turn around on their own.
They come from showing up and doing the right work the right way, with the kind of mindset Grady shared in his interview, a mindset grounded in faith, discipline, and resilience.
The Mental and Emotional Recovery
While the numbers tell one story, Grady’s reflection adds depth to what true recovery looks like.
“More than the physical tools, it was also having somebody to talk through this injury with — someone who knows and deals with it a lot. It was almost like a therapy session, like a sports therapy. That was big for me.”
His progress wasn’t just about regaining strength. It was about restoring trust in his body and finding peace through the process.
“From trying to bend my leg to 90 degrees to getting full hamstring-to-calf range again — to finally run back out on that field — that was everything. My experience with Accelerate ACL? I’d say necessary.”
“Necessary.”
Grady’s word choice says it all.
For athletes facing the uncertainty and frustration of ACL recovery, his story is proof that with the right system, one that integrates neuroelectric stimulation, functional progression, and mental recalibration, faster, safer, and more complete recovery is possible.
“It’s pushed me to a whole new level,” he said. “Knowing I can do this — that it’s possible without overworking myself — that’s something I think could be good for anybody going through it too.”
Closing Reflection
Grady’s recovery with Accelerate ACL shows how far an athlete can go when advanced tools meet steady, honest, day-to-day work.
At four months, he had already reached levels that most protocols do not expect until nearly a year post-op. But beyond the numbers, his story is a reminder that recovery is not just physical. It is belief, support, and the willingness to keep showing up, even on the hard days.
Accelerate ACL, where “necessary” becomes the new standard.
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