Atlanta Falcons Rookie James Pearce Jr Arrested After Domestic Dispute
Atlanta Falcons rookie linebacker James Pearce Jr was arrested on Saturday following a domestic dispute with his girlfriend, WNBA star Rickea Jackson. The incident occurred in Doral County, Florida, and has brought renewed attention to character concerns that were raised about Pearce before the 2025 NFL Draft.
Multiple Charges and Police Chase
Pearce, 22, faces serious charges including two counts of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, aggravated stalking, and fleeing or eluding police. According to reports, he fled the scene of the altercation with Jackson and crashed his car while being pursued by law enforcement officers.
Disturbing footage later surfaced on social media, showing six police officers pinning Pearce to the ground as they attempted to detain him after the crash. Doral Police Chief Edwin Lopez confirmed the identities of both individuals involved in the incident.
Pre-Draft Character Concerns Resurface
This arrest comes just one year after NFL scouts expressed significant worries about Pearce's character. In March 2025, Cleveland Browns reporter Cory Kinnan claimed that Pearce had received the worst character report of any player in his draft class.
Anonymous sources questioned his maturity and attitude, with one unnamed defensive line coach telling The Athletic's Bruce Feldman: That kid is a first-round talent. But the stuff you hear about his maturity scares me.
Previous Legal Troubles
This is not Pearce's first encounter with law enforcement. In December 2023, while still a college player at Tennessee, he was arrested during a traffic stop in Knoxville. Police reported that Pearce was driving 63 mph in a 35 mph zone in a vehicle with an expired tag and a suspended license.
He faced multiple charges including speeding, driving on a suspended license, failure to present insurance, registration not properly displayed, and improper window tinting.
Falcons' Gamble on Talent
Despite these red flags, the Atlanta Falcons traded up to select Pearce with the 26th overall pick in the 2025 draft, even surrendering a 2026 first-round selection in the process. The team recognized his undeniable talent on the field, where he stands 6 feet 5 inches tall and weighs 243 pounds.
His intensity was evident early in his NFL career when he got into an altercation with teammate Kaleb McGary during practice, leading to a skirmish between offensive and defensive players. Defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich noted that Pearce showed resilience by making several impressive plays immediately after the incident.
Promising Rookie Season Cut Short
Pearce enjoyed a strong debut season with the Falcons, recording 17 solo tackles and 10.5 sacks. His performance earned him third place in voting for NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, announced just three days before his arrest.
Police records indicate that Pearce was booked at 6:58 PM EST on Saturday night and is currently being held at Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center. His bond has not yet been set.
Team Response and Career Implications
The Atlanta Falcons issued a brief statement regarding the situation: 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.
This arrest places Pearce's promising NFL career in serious jeopardy, potentially derailing what had been an impressive start with the Falcons organization.
