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The NFL is nothing if not teeming with high-profile romances. Josh Allen is engaged to Hailee Steinfeld, Russell Wilson is married to Ciara and Travis Kelce is dating the world's biggest pop star, Taylor Swift. That's not to mention relationships between athletes — take Jonathan Owens and Simone Biles, for example.
During the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft, another partnership looked to have possibly been enshrined into that illustrious company. Los Angeles Sparks standout Rickea Jackson has long been subject to speculation regarding her dating life. On Thursday, cameras caught her mingling with fellow Tennessee alum James Pearce Jr. after the Volunteers' EDGE rusher matriculated to the big leagues after a glistening spell at Neyland Stadium.
With that, here's what you need to know about Jackson and Pearce's burgeoning relationship with one another.
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Is Rickea Jackson dating James Pearce Jr.?
Jackson hasn't completely confirmed her relationship with Pearce. But all signs point to the Tennessee alums dating one another. Jackson watched along as Pearce found out that he was heading to the Falcons after being selected No. 26 overall in this year's draft.
ESPN cameras caught the pair chumming it up when the call came in. Jackson rubbed Pearce's leg as his NFL prospects materialized in a warm Charlotte room.
James Pearce Jr. is heading to the Atlanta Falcons with the 26th pick 👏 pic.twitter.com/qVLbSmOr5T
— ESPN (@espn) April 25, 2025Both Jackson and Pearce spent multiple seasons in Knoxville, with Jackson's two-year spell (2022-24) overlapping with Pearce's three-year tenure.
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Masses of sports fans were left reeling at the sight of the 24-year old Jackson embracing the 21-year old Pearce. Suffice to say, social media was abuzz as rumors of Jackson's dating life washed away beneath the glow of the ESPN broadcast.
LA Sparks player Rickea Jackson and her partner University of Tennessee football player James Pierce Jr pic.twitter.com/FdcYqqnrga
— Rain | Media | YourBDFavoritePublicist 🇱🇷 (@BloggedByRain) September 8, 2024Jackson even took to X, the website formerly known as Twitter, to have some fun with those left surprised by the apparent "announcement."
Soooo I have a doppelganger. Wow
— RJ👑 (@iamthathooper) April 25, 2025In her first year with the Sparks, Jackson landed All-Rookie first-team honors after tallying 13.4 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.5 assists on 45.6/34.7/80.7 shooting splits. If Pearce can achieve even something close to that of his apparent partner, you'd have to imagine that he — and Falcons fans — will be happy.
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