BroBible
Atlanta Falcons safety DeMarcco Hellams played like a man possessed during the first NFL preseason game of 2025. The former seventh-round pick continues to secure his roster spot for year three every time he steps out onto the field.
However, the 25-year-old picked up a personal foul penalty that sparked our first “controversy” of the year.
Hellams laid the wood on Josh Reynolds during the first quarter and drew a flag. It appeared to be legal!
The former Alabama defensive back finished sixth in the SEC with 108 tackles for the Crimson Tide as a senior. He was selected No. 224 overall in the seventh round of the 2023 NFL Draft by the Falcons.
Demarcco Hellams made the final roster as a rookie and recorded 25 total tackles in four games. There was a lot of excitement about his potential at the position leading into last season.
Unfortunately, Hellams’ second year in the NFL was cut short. It never even started!
An ankle injury during the preseason landed him on injured reserve for all of 2024. Now he is back. The man they call “Hit Man” or “Bamm-Bamm” is recovered fully from his season-ending injury.
“He’s not a happy guy right now,” said safety Jessie Bates. “He’s always moving with bad intentions of wanting to go hit somebody. And you need that on the football team.”
That was abundantly clear during the preseason opener.
Although the Falcons and the Lions did not complete all four quarters, DeMarcco Hellams’ presence in the secondary was felt right away. The 25-year-old got down field to lay a big hit during the first quarter. Reynolds got licked. It was a slobberknocker.
Unfortunately, the NFL official decided to throw a flag.
