Falcons face new questions about
Pearce's future with the team as pass-rush leader faces charges
[February 09, 2026]
By CHARLES ODUM
ATLANTA (AP) — Following the arrest of James Pearce Jr. on Saturday
night, the Atlanta Falcons face troubling questions about the
standout rookie's immediate and long-term future with the team.
For at least the 2026 season, Pearce's status could be jeopardized
by serious legal problems. Pearce was arrested near Miami after
fleeing officers and then crashing his car following what police
said was a domestic dispute with WNBA player Rickea Jackson.
According to the jail website, Pearce posted bond of $20,500 Sunday
at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center. He's facing
several felony charges, including two counts of aggravated battery
with a deadly weapon as well as aggravated stalking and fleeing or
eluding police. He was given a pre-trial stay-away order from
Jackson.
Pearce’s arrest came after Doral police were summoned to investigate
a reported domestic dispute between a man and a woman.
WPLG-TV in Miami reported that Doral Police Chief Edwin Lopez
confirmed the dispute was between Pearce and Jackson, a forward for
the Los Angeles Sparks.
The charges may force the Falcons to consider if Pearce should have
a role on the team even after addressing his legal problems. It
would not be an easy decision after Pearce set a Falcons rookie
record with a team-leading 10 1/2 sacks.
The Falcons traded their 2026 first-round draft pick to the Los
Angeles Rams to select Pearce last year with the No. 26 overall
pick.
It was an especially notable draft investment after Atlanta chose
Georgia linebacker and edge rusher Jalon Walker at No. 15 last year.
The Falcons doubled down on their commitment to improve their pass
rush by drafting Pearce, the former Tennessee star.
Even though an 8-9 finish left Atlanta with its eighth consecutive
losing season, the pass rush was dramatically improved. Led by
Pearce, the Falcons set a team record with 57 sacks, one year after
finishing next to last in the league with 31.
Despite closing the season with four straight wins, the losing
record led to the firings of coach Raheem Morris and general manager
Terry Fontenot. The team's new leadership — coach Kevin Stefanski,
general manager Ian Cunningham and president of football Matt Ryan —
now face an offseason made more difficult by Pearce's arrest.
The Falcons already faced some tough decisions, including the
possible release of veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins despite starter
Michael Penix Jr.'s uncertain status for the start of the season as
he recovers from a knee injury.
Stefanski said recently he already had talked with defensive
coordinator Jeff Ulbrich about having Pearce and Walker together
next season.
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Atlanta Falcons linebacker James Pearce Jr. (27) is
interviewed after an NFL football game against the New Orleans
Saints, on Jan. 4, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Danny Karnik, File)
“Very, very talented young men, excited to coach
both of them,” Stefanski said. “Obviously, I’ve talked to (Ulbrich)
about those guys in particular and how we can deploy them.”
The Falcons said in a statement Saturday night they were aware of
Pearce's arrest.
“We are in the process of gathering more information and will not
have any further comment on an open legal matter at this time,” the
Falcons said.
There was much speculation that concerns about Pearce's character
and commitment to football caused him to drop in last year's draft.
He had been mentioned as Atlanta's possible choice at the No. 15
spot used to select Walker. Instead, he was still available late in
the first round.
Morris said at the end of the season that the decision to trade the
2026 first-round pick for Pearce was agreed on by all the team's
leadership, including owner Arthur Blank.
“I thought it was something that was very unique to be able to have
a relationship with the general manager, with the owner, to be able
to have those conversations, to be able to put yourself in a
position to do those things,” Morris said. “All decisions you make,
they’re always hard, they are always tough, and they’re all going to
be heavily criticized.”
Morris said Pearce's production made the decision look good.
“It sure is nice when a guy comes out and performs like you think
he’s capable of doing,” Morris said. “So for James to come out here
and get better and better throughout the course of the season, be
able to finish with 10 1/2 sacks, arguably the rookie of the year
... I can’t say enough about him.”
Following the first round last year, Fontenot was asked about the
off-field questions surrounding Pearce that caused apparent concern
from other teams. Fontenot said his staff and coaches “were about as
thorough and detailed as you can possibly be” when doing their
research on Pearce, including talking with “everybody that’s
surrounded with him."
"It was truly an exhaustive process and that’s what makes us feel
good about our culture and everything we are. But that’s important,
we always talk about intangibles and we want to bring in guys that
love ball and love to compete and as we build this roster the right
way, and we spent a lot of time with him, making sure that that he
was going to fit.”
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