Longtime D’Orlando Ledbetter joins The Locker Room for an unforgettable conversation about covering the Atlanta Falcons for more than two decades, breaking major stories, and launching his next chapter.
From traveling the world after leaving the Atlanta Journal-Constitution to starting his new venture BowTieSports.com, D-Led pulls back the curtain on what life was really like as an NFL beat writer — the relationships, the tough questions, and the unforgettable moments that shaped Falcons history.
In this wide-ranging interview, D-Led discusses:
His transition after leaving the AJC and launching BowTie Sports Media The daily grind of covering the Falcons at Flowery Branch Training Facility Building relationships with stars like Matt Ryan, Julio Jones, Tony Gonzalez, and Michael Turner The toughest story he ever had to cover — the Michael Vick investigation Behind-the-scenes tensions with players and how trust is built inside NFL locker rooms His biggest Falcons draft hits and misses, including the decision to draft Matt Ryan in 2008 Why the loss in Super Bowl LI remains one of the hardest moments of his career.
Atlanta Falcons cornerback Dee Alford (20) celebrates his interception against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the second half of an NFL football game, Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)
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