Kevin Stefanski says James Pearce Jr. will miss Atlanta’s voluntary offseason workout as his legal case continues, including a fast-track pre-trial intervention program that may be extended in Florida. The Falcons traded up for Pearce after a rookie surge of 1
Atlanta’s offseason had a familiar edge in the building—until the most important name on the defense quietly didn’t show up.
On April 8, Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski announced that James Pearce Jr. would not be with the team during their voluntary offseason workout program due to the ongoing legal issues. Stefanski didn’t offer a timeline for when the outside linebacker could return. saying only that Atlanta is still waiting for more information while staying in constant contact with everyone involved.
“[We are] in constant communication with all parties but continuing to wait for more information to come out,” Stefanski said.
Pearce’s situation has been developing off the field as fast as the Falcons’ investment was made on it. Atlanta traded up in the 2025 NFL Draft to select Pearce from Tennessee, giving up a third, a seventh, and a 2026 first-round pick to land him.
As a rookie, Pearce flashed the kind of production that made the trade feel immediate. He recorded 10.5 sacks in his first season.
But before his NFL career began, his path was already complicated. Prior to the draft, Pearce was arrested due to a number of vehicular issues. More recently, the legal picture sharpened on Feb. 7, 2026, when he was arrested on two charges of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and one count of aggravated stalking.
The same Feb. 7 arrest also included charges of fleeing and eluding police officers, aggravated battery of a law enforcement officer, and resisting an officer.
Despite the severity of those allegations, Pearce has accepted a fast-track, pre-trial intervention program, according to his attorney. The program was originally announced as a six-month process, but the state of Florida has requested an extension to a year-long program.
If Pearce completes the intervention program, charges from his WNBA ex-girlfriend, Rickea Jackson, will be dropped. Jackson also dismissed her attempt to acquire a restraining order.
Stefanski’s comments came after Pearce had already been kept away from the Falcons’ voluntary workout setting, with Josh Kendall reporting that the coach does not have a new update on the situation.
For Atlanta, the timing is more than a bureaucratic inconvenience. Pearce still faces a potential suspension from the NFL, and the Falcons—now led by their new-look coaching staff—will need their pass-rushing playmaker to be on the field sooner rather than later.
Everything around Pearce now moves in parallel: legal steps and NFL uncertainty. while the Falcons try to build momentum in the spring. In the middle of it. the player the team traded up to get remains in limbo—talent acknowledged. availability pending. and the next decision set to arrive through the slow grind of a court schedule.
James Pearce Jr Kevin Stefanski Atlanta Falcons 2025 NFL Draft legal situation pre-trial intervention Rickea Jackson aggravated battery aggravated stalking NFL suspension