James Pearce Jr., an edge rusher for the Atlanta Falcons, was arrested Saturday in South Florida on multiple felony charges following an alleged domestic dispute with his girlfriend, Los Angeles Sparks star forward Rickea Jackson.

According to police reports, the 22-year-old NFL player faces two counts of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, aggravated stalking, and fleeing and eluding police. Doral Police Chief Edwin Lopez told WPLG-TV that officers responded to a dispute between the couple before Pearce allegedly fled the scene in a vehicle. The pursuit ended when Pearce crashed at Northwest 103rd Avenue and 66th Street, where he was taken into custody.

Pearce was booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center in Miami-Dade County. Records show his bond was set at $20,500, and a judge has issued a pre-trial conditional stay-away order, requiring him to have no contact with Jackson.

The Atlanta Falcons addressed the arrest in a statement released Sunday.

"We are aware of an incident involving James Pearce Jr. in Miami," the team stated. "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 is coming off a highly productive first season in the NFL after being selected by Atlanta with the 26th overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft. The former University of Tennessee standout recorded 10.5 sacks, the highest total among all rookies in his class and a franchise record for a Falcons rookie. 

Jackson, a 24-year-old forward for the Sparks, was the No. 4 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA draft. Like Pearce, she also starred at the University of Tennessee. In the 2025 WNBA season, she averaged 14.7 points and 3.2 rebounds across 38 games. She is currently in South Florida participating in the Unrivaled 3-on-3 basketball league.

Neither representatives for Jackson nor the Los Angeles Sparks have issued an official comment regarding the incident.