Falcons linebacker James Pearce Jr. was arrested Saturday following a domestic dispute with Sparks star Rickea Jackson, according to ESPN.
Pearce was charged with two counts of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, along with one count of aggravated stalking and fleeing or eluding police with lights and siren, according to jail records viewed by The Post.
Police officers initially responded to an incident in Doral, Fla. following a reported dispute between a male and female.
Feb. 7, 2026 Doral Police Department
Pearce crashed his car during a police chase, according to multiple reports.
According to Local 10, authorities said Pearce, 23, fled the scene before crashing his vehicle and ultimately being arrested by police.
Pearce, who was selected by the Falcons with the No. 26 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, was then booked into Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center and his bond has yet to be set.
“We are aware of an incident involving James Pearce Jr., in Miami,” the Falcons said in a statement, according to NFL Network. “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 proved to be one of the top defensive rookies this past NFL season, notching 10.5 sacks through 17 games played.
Pearce wound up placing third in voting for the 2025 Defensive Rookie of the Year behind Seahawks safety Nick Emmanwori and Browns linebacker Carson Schwesinger, who took home the award.
Jackson was drafted by the Sparks with the No. 4 pick in the 2024 draft, and averaged 14.7 points through 38 games in her second WNBA season this year.
The two have been publicly spotted together before, with Jackson seen supporting Pearce while he was drafted by Atlanta in April 2025.
According to On3, Jackson and Pearce were together last summer, but she confirmed the couple’s split in September 2025.
