Netizens Fume Over Alleged Domestic Dispute Between Rickea Jackson And Falcons Star James Pearce Jr.

Atlanta Falcons rookie defensive player James Pearce Jr. was arrested on Saturday, February 7, 2026, in Florida, following an alleged domestic dispute with his WNBA star ex-girlfriend, Rickea Jackson.

According to several reports, Pearce Jr. was taken into custody by Florida law enforcement officers after the NFL player allegedly crashed his car after fleeing from police.

Social media users have been reacting to the news of Pearce's arrest and alleged domestic dispute with Rickea Jackson, blasting the football player and pleading for the WNBA standout's safety amid the madness.

Pearce was arrested in Miami-Dade County on two counts of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and a count of aggravated stalking, according to ESPN and the Associated Press.

Pearce was also charged with fleeing and eluding police officers, aggravated battery of a law enforcement officer, and resisting an officer without violence.

Pearce was booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center at around 7 PM local time on Saturday, where no bond was set.

WPLG TV reported that Pearce was involved in an alleged dispute with Jackson, while Doral police chief Edwin Lopez shed even more light on the grim situation, explaining that Pearce was arrested after fleeing the alleged altercation and crashing his car during a police chase.

The Atlanta Falcons organization responded to the news, stating that the team was aware of the alleged incident. "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 statement read.

A stunning video believed to be of Pearce Jr. being arrested by Florida police officers has gone viral, and while law enforcement officers have not yet confirmed the clip, according to TMZ, the man being led away in handcuffs looks strikingly similar to that of Pearce.

Pearce, 22, was the 26th pick in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft. He and Jackson both attended the University of Tennessee, where Jackson played basketball before being selected as the fourth pick by the Los Angeles Sparks in the 2024 WNBA Draft.

The pair seemed to confirm their relationship in April 2025, when a video of Jackson rubbing Pearce Jr.'s leg during draft night went viral.

Social media users have been reacting to the news of Pearce Jr.'s shocking arrest throughout the night, and many expressed disappointment in the Tennessee alum and pleaded for Jackson's safety.

"These abusive athletes feel untouchable because folks are never truly held accountable," someone wrote on X. "It's disgusting man."

Another user wrote, "[Pearce Jr.'s] NFL career should be over and jail time should be served. Full stop."

"Every new line makes it worse," a third user posted. "This isn't 'drama,' it's dangerous behavior. Hope the legal system handles this fully and publicly."

On Instagram, the reaction was much of the same, with one user saying, "I hate this for her. Rickea, walk away. You're too valid for him, boo. Sometimes, a man can't handle the woman being more goated... sending love and prayers."

The news about Pearce Jr's alleged altercation with Jackson comes amid Jackson's second year playing in Unrivaled—the 3x3 women's basketball league making waves in professional sports.

Jackson is part of Team Breeze, showing consistent performances on the hardwood since the beginning of the season. Most recently, Jackson finished her game against Team Hive on February 6 with 15 points, 11 rebounds, and 4 assists in 16 minutes.

Jackson's impressive on-court performance has led to even more lucrative off-court deals, including her partnership with Samsung and her becoming the first WNBA player to sign a shoe deal with Skechers. It was a move she said was inspired by the shoewear giant's commitment to celebrating stellar athletes.

"While Skechers is a new player in the basketball world, their commitment to fit, support, and active collaboration with athletes is clear. The comfort and design of their footwear is truly impressive. I love training in these shoes and I’m eager to see what we can accomplish together," she said.