FLOWERY BRANCH — In the fifth round of the NFL draft, the Falcons selected Notre Dame linebacker J.D. Bertrand with the 143rd overall pick Saturday.

Bertrand, 6-foot-1 and 233 pounds, played at Blessed Trinity High and is from Roswell.

He led the Fighting Irish with 76 tackles last season. He also had 7.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, five pass breakups, seven quarterback hurries and a forced fumble.

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An Atlanta Falcons fan cheers during their game against the New England Patriots on Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025, in Foxborough, Mass. This week, the Falcons are in Berlin to take on the  Indianapolis Colts. (Robert F. Bukaty/AP)

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Passengers wait at a Delta check-in counter at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. It was the first day the Federal Aviation Administration cut flight capacity at airports during the government shutdown. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

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