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
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.
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Hold on…. is that who I think it is???? pic.twitter.com/t4Chq6bFS9
— E Booker✊🏾 (@E_Book88) April 25, 2025
“Wow. She told me she had practice today .. caught her a** in 4k,” another joked.
Wow. She told me she had practice today .. caught her ass in 4k
— DOPE! (@DopeDJ) April 25, 2025
“I didn’t even know who this man was 11 minutes ago, but he’s winning at life,” said a third.
I didn’t even know who this man was 11 minutes ago, but he’s winning at life.
— Jay (@JayNCtoDC) April 25, 2025
“I hope her a** get dunked on this season…multiple times,” someone added.
I hope her ass get dunked on this season…multiple times
— ᴅɪᴍᴇᴡᴏʀᴋ🧪🥼 (@BeLiKeDime) April 25, 2025
“Dawg I thought my eyes was deceiving me,” said another.
Dawg I thought my eyes was deceiving me
— Sniperrrr (@sniperr1800) April 25, 2025
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.”
Soooo I have a doppelganger. Wow
— RJ👑 (@iamthathooper) April 25, 2025
As you might imagine, no one’s buying that. But let’s give her the benefit of the doubt.
