Social Media Couldn’t Believe Who Falcons 1st-Round Pick James Pearce Jr. Has Been Dating This Whole Time After Cameras Showed Her Rubbing His Thigh During Thursday’s Draft - News

Social Media Couldn’t Believe Who Falcons 1st-Roun...

Social Media Couldn’t Believe Who Falcons 1st-Round Pick James Pearce Jr. Has Been Dating This Whole Time After Cameras Showed Her Rubbing His Thigh During Thursday’s Draft

James Pearce Jr. - Atlanta Falcons Linebacker - ESPN
Seeing Rickea Jackson sitting next to James Pearce Jr. immediately sparked a wave of reactions on social media. Fans were quick to piece it together, speculating about the nature of their relationship and praising the power duo of Tennessee stars turned professional athletes. Jackson, who had a standout career with the Lady Vols before heading to the WNBA, looked just as thrilled as Pearce during his big moment. The surprise appearance added even more buzz to an already electric night for Atlanta Falcons fans, and it gave sports fans another rising couple to keep an eye on moving forward.

James Pearce Jr. and Rickea JacksonJames Pearce Jr. (Photo via ESPN)
Fans could not believe who was sitting at James Pearce Jr.’s side during the first round of the NFL Draft on Thursday.

The Atlanta Falcons picked twice on the night, taking Jalon Walker out of Georgia at No. 15 before trading back into the round for Tennessee star Pearce at No. 26 at the cost of a 2026 first rounder, a 2025 second-rounder, and a 2025 seventh-rounder, with the Los Angeles Rams on the other end. Atlanta also got a third-rounder from the Rams.

Pearce was not at the draft but watched with friends and family at home. And fans were shocked to see Rickea Jackson sitting beside him when the cameras entered his house following the life-changing development.

Jackson is, of course, a former Tennessee basketball star who now plays for the Los Angeles Sparks after going No. 4 overall in last year’s WNBA Draft.

James Pearce Jr. And Rickea Jackson Deserve Privacy Props

Tennessee defensive lineman James Pearce Jr. sacks UTEP quarterback JP Pickles during a college football game between Tennessee and UTEP at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024.
The couple did a great job of keeping their relationship under wraps. No one knew they were a thing until Jackson was suddenly shown rubbing Pearce’s thigh on national television.

 

“Hold on…. is that who I think it is????” one social media user asked.

“Wow. She told me she had practice today .. caught her a** in 4k,” another joked.

“I didn’t even know who this man was 11 minutes ago, but he’s winning at life,” said a third.

“I hope her a** get dunked on this season…multiple times,” someone added.

“Dawg I thought my eyes was deceiving me,” said another.

Rickea Jackson did want people thinking their eyes deceived them as she has seemingly denied she was the one sitting with James Pearce Jr. on Thursday night, taking to X with the following:

“Soooo I have a doppelganger. Wow.”

As you might imagine, no one’s buying that. But let’s give her the benefit of the doubt.

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