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NFL Suspends James Pearce Jr. for Eight Games

8/15/2026

26 2 Full Breakdown

Summary

Pearce Suspended

The NFL suspended Atlanta Falcons edge rusher James Pearce Jr. for eight regular-season games.
The ban begins on Aug. 30, 2026, with eligibility for reinstatement on Nov. 2, 2026.
Pearce was arrested on Feb. 7, 2026, in Doral, Florida, after a domestic-violence incident with ex-girlfriend WNBA player Rickea Jackson.
He entered a pre-trial intervention program that will dismiss the charges if he completes it and avoids Jackson for a year.

Summary

Pearce Salary Forfeit

James Pearce Jr. will forfeit $446,664 in base salary during his eight-game ban.
The Falcons can recoup $982,528 of Pearce’s signing bonus because of the conduct violation.
The suspension voids the guarantee on the remaining $6.65 million of Pearce’s rookie deal.
Weeks 1-8 of the schedule pit Atlanta against the Steelers, Panthers, Packers, Saints, Ravens, Bears, 49ers and Buccaneers without Pearce.

History

Historical Context

In 2007 NFL commissioner Roger Goodell suspended quarterback Michael Vick for 21 games and ordered the Falcons to recover roughly $20 million of his signing bonus after Vick’s dog-fighting conviction. That precedent of harsh, financially-driven discipline shaped the league’s conduct policy, so when edge rusher James Pearce Jr. received an eight-game ban in 2026, teams again tightened contract clauses and players faced steeper monetary penalties.

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Pearce Suspended

The NFL suspended Atlanta Falcons edge rusher James Pearce Jr. for eight regular-season games.
The ban begins on Aug. 30, 2026, with eligibility for reinstatement on Nov. 2, 2026.
Pearce was arrested on Feb. 7, 2026, in Doral, Florida, after a domestic-violence incident with ex-girlfriend WNBA player Rickea Jackson.
He entered a pre-trial intervention program that will dismiss the charges if he completes it and avoids Jackson for a year.

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