Atlanta Falcons star rookie James Pearce was arrested Saturday and accused of domestic violence and fleeing from police.
Pearce, a 22-year-old defensive end, was involved in a domestic dispute with WNBA star Rickea Jackson in South Florida, authorities said. He was charged with two counts of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, one count of aggravated stalking and one count of fleeing or eluding police.
Pearce and Jackson previously dated, and she was seated next to him when the Falcons selected him in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft. Both were collegiate stars at the University of Tennessee.
Law enforcement sources told local reporter Andy Slater that Pearce intentionally crashed his car into Jackson’s car to prevent her from driving to a police station, then sped off when cops responded to the scene.
Pearce later crashed his own vehicle and was arrested by numerous officers, according to videos shared on social media.
Authorities did not release further details of the incident. The Falcons said they were aware of Pearce’s arrest and “gathering more information.”
Just two days earlier, Pearce attended the NFL Honors ceremony in San Francisco, finishing third in Defensive Rookie of the Year voting. He had 10.5 sacks and forced a fumble in his first season with the Falcons.
Jackson, 24, has played two seasons with the Los Angeles Sparks after being selected No. 4 overall in the WNBA Draft in 2024. She made the all-rookie team in her first season.
With News Wire Services
