Falcons DE James Pearce Jr. Faces Multiple Charges After Alleged Incidents

Police responded to several 911 calls involving Pearce before his recent arrest.

Published on Mar. 10, 2026

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Falcons defensive end James Pearce Jr. was arrested on February 7th and charged with multiple felonies, including allegedly ramming his ex-girlfriend's car, fleeing police, and assaulting an officer. Prior to this incident, police had responded to at least seven 911 calls involving Pearce over the preceding months, including being told to stay away from his ex-girlfriend's home on January 13th.

Why it matters

The Pearce case raises questions about the NFL's personal conduct policy and whether the league was made aware of any prior incidents involving the player. The Falcons could also face scrutiny if the league determines they should have reported any of the previous interactions with law enforcement.

The details

According to the ESPN report, police records show Pearce was told on January 13th to stay away from the home of a woman described as his ex-girlfriend. Officers were repeatedly sent to the home of Pearce's 'on-again, off-again' girlfriend in the preceding weeks, with the names of the individuals who called authorities redacted from the documents. The most recent police visits happened on February 1st and February 2nd, just days before Pearce's arrest on February 7th.

  • On January 13, police told Pearce to stay away from his ex-girlfriend's home.
  • In the weeks prior, police were repeatedly sent to the home of Pearce's 'on-again, off-again' girlfriend.
  • On February 1 and February 2, police responded to additional calls involving Pearce.
  • Pearce was arrested on February 7 and charged with multiple felonies.

The players

James Pearce Jr.

A defensive end for the Atlanta Falcons who was arrested on February 7th and charged with multiple felonies, including allegedly ramming his ex-girlfriend's car, fleeing police, and assaulting an officer.

Rickea Jackson

A WNBA player who is described as Pearce's 'ex-girlfriend' and had made multiple 911 calls in the months prior to Pearce's arrest.

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What’s next

The NFL is reviewing the February 7th incident involving Pearce, and he could eventually be placed on paid leave pending the outcome of the league's investigation.

The takeaway

This case highlights the importance of professional sports leagues closely monitoring players' off-field conduct and ensuring teams report any incidents that may violate the league's personal conduct policy. The Pearce situation raises questions about whether the Falcons should have notified the NFL about the prior 911 calls and police interactions involving the player.