FAN noticed football prospect James Pearce Jr.’s girlfriend at the 2025 NFL Draft on Thursday night and found out she’s famous.
Pearce and his significant other were together when the Atlanta Falcons traded up to select Pearce with the No. 26 overall pick.
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ESPN’s cameras showed Pearce at his draft party in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Pearce was spotted sitting with his girlfriend, who was rubbing his leg as he found out that he would be a first-round pick after three seasons at Tennessee.
But fans realized that Pearce’s girlfriend is quite notable, as she’s WNBA star Rickea Jackson, who plays for the Los Angeles Sparks.
It appeared that the live television sequence was the first time that the 21-year-old Pearce revealed that the 24-year-old Jackson was his girlfriend.
Social media users reacted to Jackson sitting alongside Pearce at his NFL Draft party.
“I know that wasn’t Rickea Jackson!?!?” one wrote.
“Is that Rickea??” another asked.
“That’s a power couple for sure,” a third commented.
“Pearce is winning. Jackson’s so beautiful,” a fourth said.
Pearce posted 38 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, and 7.5 sacks for Tennessee.
He was named First-Team All-SEC in 2023 and 2024.
As for Jackson, she played for the Volunteers after three seasons at Mississippi State.
Just like Pearce, the Detroit, Michigan native was a first-round pick.
Jackson was selected by the Sparks with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft.
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She received WNBA All-Rookie Team honors this past season.
Jackson will begin her second campaign when the Sparks start the 2025 WNBA season against the Golden State Valkyries.