James Pierce Jr., a linebacker for the Falcons, was arrested on Saturday following a domestic incident involving Sparks player Rikea Jackson. This information comes from ESPN.
Pierce faces multiple charges, including two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, one count of aggravated stalking, and another for fleeing police using lights or sirens, based on jail records examined by the news outlet.
Law enforcement responded after receiving calls about a disturbance between a man and a woman in Doral, Florida.
During the police pursuit, Pierce reportedly crashed his vehicle, and he managed to escape briefly before being apprehended.
As reported by Local 10, authorities revealed that the 23-year-old fled the area before his vehicle crash, leading to his arrest.
Pierce, who was picked by the Falcons as the 26th overall choice in the 2025 NFL Draft, is currently held at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, although no bond has been established yet.
The Falcons acknowledged the situation involving Pierce in a statement, stating, “We are aware of an incident involving James Pierce Jr. in Miami. We are in the process of gathering further information and will not be commenting further on outstanding legal matters at this time,” according to NFL Network.
Throughout the last NFL season, Pierce emerged as one of the standout defensive rookies, recording 10.5 sacks over 17 games.
He ranked third in the 2025 Defensive Rookie of the Year voting, trailing behind Seahawks safety Nick Emanwoli and Browns linebacker Carson Schwezinger.
On the other hand, Rikea Jackson was selected by the Sparks as the fourth pick in the 2024 draft, maintaining an average of 14.7 points across 38 games in her second season in the WNBA.
Previously, the couple was spotted together publicly, with Jackson often supporting Pierce after he was drafted in April 2025.
As per On3, Jackson and Pierce began their relationship last summer, though they confirmed their breakup in September 2025.
