Atlanta Falcons rookie edge rusher James Pearce Jr. was arrested Saturday following a domestic dispute with his girlfriend, WNBA player Rickea Jackson, that led to a police chase and vehicle crash, authorities said.
Pearce, 22, faces charges including two counts of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, aggravated stalking, fleeing and eluding police, and resisting an officer without violence. Police said Pearce rammed his Lamborghini into Jackson’s vehicle during the incident to prevent her from reaching a police station.
The altercation occurred in Doral, a suburb of Miami, where officers responded to reports of a domestic disturbance. Pearce fled the scene, prompting a pursuit that ended when he crashed at the intersection of Northwest 103rd Avenue and 66th Street, according to Doral Police Chief Edwin Lopez. He was taken into custody at the scene and booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center. Bond has not been set.
The Falcons issued a 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.”
Pearce, a first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft out of Tennessee, had a standout rookie season with 10.5 sacks and finished third in voting for defensive rookie of the year. Jackson, 24, plays forward for the Los Angeles Sparks and was the No. 4 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft, also from Tennessee.
The couple’s relationship drew public attention last April when Jackson appeared alongside Pearce during the NFL Draft broadcast, sparking speculation they were dating. Jackson later addressed the buzz on social media with a six-word response: “Y’all need to mind y’all business.”
No further details on the dispute were immediately available, and representatives for Pearce and Jackson did not respond to requests for comment. The NFL said it is reviewing the matter under its personal conduct policy.
