In the hours leading up to Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara, Atlanta Falcons rookie edge rusher James Pearce Jr.’s off-field situation has become a major issue. Authorities arrested Pearce on February 7 in Miami-Dade County following a brief police chase that ended in a car crash tied to his reported domestic dispute involving WNBA player Rickea Jackson. Police took Pearce into custody and booked him on five felony charges and one misdemeanor, but developments in the case have quickly followed.

“James Pearce Jr. has been released from Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, per an official. Pearce is facing five felony charges and one misdemeanor,” Falcons reporter Marc Raimondi reported via X on February 8.

According to further reports, officials granted James Pearce Jr. bond on February 8 after he posted $20,500. Pearce also appeared before a judge that day via video call, during which the court formally read the charges. Those charges against Pearce include one count of aggravated stalking and two counts of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. On top of those, Pearce has also been charged with aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer, fleeing and eluding police, along with a misdemeanor count of resisting an officer without violence.

According to further reports, officials granted James Pearce Jr. bond on February 8 after he posted $20,500. Pearce also appeared before a judge that day via video call, during which the court formally read the charges against Pearce, including one count of aggravated stalking and two counts of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. On top of that, Pearce has also been charged with aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer, fleeing and eluding police, along with a misdemeanor count of resisting an officer without violence.

Presiding Judge Jacqueline Woodward further issued a domestic violence stay-away order for the victim in the case against Pearce. The order will require Pearce to have no contact with the victim, who was identified in court as “Ms. Jackson,” and to remain at least 500 feet away from her home. The judge also assigned Pearce’s case to the felony domestic crimes intake unit.

According to reports, James Pearce Jr. was allegedly stalking Jackson and attempted to enter her vehicle at an intersection following a domestic dispute. When Jackson sped away, Pearce reportedly pursued her and intentionally crashed into her car multiple times to prevent her from reaching the police station. After officers arrived at the scene, Pearce allegedly fled the scene, triggering a high-speed police chase.

The situation reportedly escalated further when Pearce drove his vehicle toward a police officer before losing control and crashing at the intersection of Northwest 103rd Avenue and 66th Street. Soon after, videos circulated online showing multiple officers restraining Pearce on the pavement following the car crash. It’s a chaotic sequence of events involving the rookie edge rusher, but the Falcons have not stayed silent.

Falcons have already released a statement on James Pearce Jr.’s issue

It was in the 2025 NFL Draft that the Falcons selected James Pearce Jr. with their No. 26 overall pick. Then, in the past season, Pearce went on to appear in 17 games. Now, just weeks removed from wrapping up his rookie season, Pearce’s football future sits firmly on hold even as the Falcons acknowledged his situation through a statement.

“We are aware of an incident involving James Pearce Jr. in Miami,” the Falcons said in their statement on February 7. “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 off-field issue feels like a stunning fall from grace for James Pearce Jr. after he entered the league with elite expectations. Pearce was viewed as one of the best pass rushers in the country during his time at Tennessee. He earned First-Team All-SEC honors and followed that up with an impressive NFL debut. Recently, Pearce finished third in the NFL’s Defensive Rookie of the Year voting after setting a Falcons rookie record with 10.5 sacks. So, how did things unravel so quickly for the Falcons’ edge rusher? 

Interestingly, while Pearce was projected as a top first-round pick last year, pre-draft reports suggested that some NFL teams had concerns about his personality and anger management. Those concerns may have contributed to Pearce’s slide to No. 26 pick for the Falcons. But at the time, Rickea Jackson, who was rumored to be Pearce’s girlfriend, publicly supported him on draft night. Now, the relationship between Jakson and Pearce has taken an unexpected and troubling turn under the spotlight of a legal case.

Regardless of how the court proceedings play out in Pearce’s case, the NFL is expected to launch its own review into James Pearce Jr.’s case under the league’s Personal Conduct Policy. But charges of this magnitude usually result in a player being placed on the NFL Commissioner’s Exempt List, which would sideline Pearce from all team activities while the league conducts its investigation.