Atlanta Falcons edge rusher James Pearce Jr. was taken into custody Saturday night in Doral, Florida, after a domestic incident that turned into a police pursuit. The 22-year-old is facing several felony charges, including two counts of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and aggravated stalking.
According to Doral Police Chief Edwin Lopez, officers were called to a domestic dispute involving Pearce and his girlfriend, Los Angeles Sparks forward Rickea Jackson, at police headquarters. Authorities say Pearce left the scene in a vehicle, prompting a chase that ended when he crashed near Northwest 103rd Avenue and 66th Street.
More scary details have emerged hours after the arrest. According to NFL insider Andy Slater, Pearce Jr. also intentionally drove into a police officer and is lucky to be alive, as the officer had his gun drawn.
“SLATER SCOOP: Pearce Jr. also intentionally drove into a police officer, hitting the cop’s knee in an effort to get away, I’m told,” Slater wrote on X. “The Atlanta Falcons linebacker is ‘lucky to be alive’ after that, a high-ranking police source tells me. The officer had his gun drawn as Pearce Jr. was allegedly not obeying commands, I’ve learned.”
The rookie linebacker is accused of intentionally crashing his Lamborghini into his ex-girlfriend’s car multiple times. He was trying to stop Jackson from getting to a police station.
The Falcons’ rookie was arrested without and booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center at 6:58 p.m. on February 7. Court documents also show several other charges, including fleeing and eluding police, aggravated battery against a law enforcement officer, and resisting an officer without violence.
James Pearce Jr.’s Relationship
James Pearce Jr. and Rickea Jackson’s relationship began during their time at the University of Tennessee, where both competed as Volunteers athletes from 2022 to 2024. Speculation first surfaced during Jackson’s No. 1 overall 2024 WNBA Draft selection by the Los Angeles Sparks.
The couple went public at Pearce’s 2025 NFL Draft watch party in Charlotte, North Carolina, on April 24, 2025, when ESPN cameras captured Jackson rubbing his leg affectionately moments after the Falcons traded up to select him 26th overall, igniting fan excitement over the power couple.
Throughout the summer of 2025, their bond appeared strong. In a May Falcons Q&A, Pearce named Jackson his favorite athlete growing up, a comment she called “cute” in response. By July, Jackson gushed about his “very intimidating” on-field presence ahead of Pearce’s rookie season.
Falcons React to James Pearce Jr.’s Arrest
According to NFL insider Mike Garafolo, the Atlanta Falcons issued a brief statement acknowledging the incident.
“We are aware of an incident involving James Pearce Jr., in Miami. We are in the process of gathering more information and will not have any further comment on an open legal matter at this time,” Garafolo wrote.
James Pearce Jr.’s NFL Career
Pearce Jr. was selected 26th overall in the 2025 NFL Draft by the Atlanta Falcons after trading up with the Rams. In his rookie year, he led all first-year players with 10.5 sacks, most since Micah Parsons in 2024, while adding 26 tackles (17 solo), 10 tackles for loss, one forced fumble, and five passes defended across 17 games. The 6-5, 243-pound pass rusher finished third in Defensive Rookie of the Year voting.
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