Linebacker for the Atlanta Falcons James Pearce Jr. faces battery charge, as well as other felonies, after alleged domestic incident with Los Angeles Sparks star Rickea Jackson.
Doral, Fla., police chief Edwin Lopez he told the local station Channel 10 news that Pearce, 22, was taken into custody after crashing his vehicle during a chase with officers on Saturday, February 7. He faces charges for the aforementioned two counts of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, as well as fleeing or eluding police with lights or siren and aggravated pursuit.
A spokesman for the Atlanta Falcons said Us Weekly on Saturday, “We are aware of an incident involving James Pearce Jr. in Miami. We are in the process of gathering more information and will have no further comment regarding an open legal matter at this time.”
Pearce reportedly fled the scene of an altercation with Jackson, 24, when police responded to a report of a dispute between a man and a woman. Chief López confirmed it Channel 10 news that the woman involved was Jackson.
UPDATE: 4/30/25, 2:48 pm ET: The National Football League has fined Atlanta Falcons and Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich for a prank phone call made to Shedeur Sanders during the 2025 NFL draft. The Falcons were fined $250,000 and Ulbrich, 48, was fined $100,000 for the leak of Sanders’ phone number. (…)
After allegedly fleeing, the football star crashed his car near Northwest 103rd Avenue and 66th Street in Doral before being taken into custody. He was booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center in Miami, with no bond immediately set.
we Doral police have been contacted for comment and the Sparks have also been contacted.
Pearce was selected by the Atlanta Falcons with the 26th overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft and ultimately played in 17 games with 26 combined tackles and 10.5 sacks last season, for Sports Illustrated. He previously played three seasons with the Tennessee Volunteers at the college level before turning pro.
Jackson played small forward for the Lady Volunteers after transferring from Mississippi State in 2022. She was selected by the Los Angeles Sparks with the fourth overall pick in the 2024 WNBA draft.
A romance between the two athletes rumored to date back to his college days in Tennessee. Jackson finally went public with the relationship when he sat next to Pearce at his NFL Draft party in April 2024.
Fans were quick to point out the pair’s harsh fling via social media, with Jackson responding in funny ways via X“Shut up, got a double. Oops.”
Rickea Jackson in April 2024.
Sarah Stier/Getty ImagesIn June 2025, Jackson shut down pregnancy rumors after he missed two Sparks games for personal reasons. The pregnancy speculation started when she posted a selfie showing her holding a basketball in front of her stomach.
When a fan blasted Jackson’s friends for “implying you’re pregnant,” she clarified, “1. My friends don’t use twitter. I have to stop linking people because of a follow😩. 2. You’re going to jump to conclusions every day which is funny but I’m a ‘rich aunt.’
Jackson returned to practice on June 3, 2025, where he complained to reporters about all the speculation about his absence.
“You have to be realistic with yourself. Like, at the end of the day, the media doesn’t talk about facts anymore,” he told the media. “So it’s just the media. Just take it with a grain of salt and don’t be gullible.”
“Whatever sounds juiciest, that’s what people want to go for,” he continued. “Like, I look like I’m pregnant.”
The Atlanta Falcons revealed their upcoming NFL schedule, with a subtle dig from former league coach Bill Belichick’s now-viral CBS interview. The Georgia-based football team made a Mario Kart-themed video to reveal which other teams will be playing in the fall, sharing it via social media on Wednesday, May 14.
Then head coach of the Sparks Lynne Roberts tried to downplay social media insinuations that Jackson’s absence was due to dissatisfaction with the WNBA franchise.
“As far as Rickea is concerned, Rickea is an important part of our organization and our team,” Roberts, 50, said. “She’s taking personal time and we support her. And we’re excited to have her back when she’s ready to come back.”
Jackson returned to the court after a two-game absence and even played through a leg injury later in the 2025 season.