ATLANTA (AP) - Atlanta Falcons rookie sensation James Pearce Jr. was arrested near Miami on Saturday evening after evading police and subsequently crashing his vehicle. This incident reportedly stemmed from a domestic dispute with WNBA player Rickea Jackson.
Pearce, who was the first-round draft pick and led the Falcons in sacks, has been acknowledged as a strong contender in the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year voting. He was taken into custody and booked at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center after Doral police responded to a call concerning a domestic conflict involving a man and a woman.
According to jail records, Pearce faces multiple serious charges, including two counts of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, aggravated stalking, and fleeing or eluding police while using lights or sirens. As of now, bond has not been set for the charges against him.
The Atlanta Falcons released an official statement on the matter, indicating their awareness of Pearce's arrest. "We are aware of an incident involving James Pearce Jr. in Miami," the Falcons stated through The Associated Press. "We are in the process of gathering more information and will not have any further comment on an open legal matter at this time."
Reports from WPLG TV in Miami highlight that Doral Police Chief Edwin Lopez confirmed the altercation was between Pearce and Jackson, a forward for the WNBA's Los Angeles Sparks. Jackson was notably the No. 4 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft and had an impressive season in 2025, averaging 14.7 points across 38 games, with 37 of those being starts. Prior to her professional career, Jackson played for both the University of Tennessee and Mississippi State University.
Pearce, an edge rusher originally hailing from Tennessee, was selected as the No. 26 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, with the Falcons emphasizing the importance of enhancing their pass rush. Throughout his rookie season, Pearce recorded an impressive 10 1/2 sacks, establishing a team record for a rookie with 45 quarterback pressures. He also contributed 26 tackles and 16 quarterback hits, in addition to forcing and recovering a fumble, participating in all 17 games of the season.
Despite Pearce's remarkable individual achievements, the Falcons concluded the season with a 8-9 record, resulting in the dismissals of head coach Raheem Morris and general manager Terry Fontenot. Following this, the team appointed Kevin Stefanski as the new head coach and Ian Cunningham as the general manager.
As this situation unfolds, both the Falcons organization and fans will be closely monitoring the developments related to Pearce's legal troubles and its implications for his career and the team's future.
