James Pearce Jr.

CAREER

• Totaled 26 tackles (17 solo), 16 quarterback hits, 10.5 sacks, 10 tackles for loss, five passes defensed, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery in 17 games played in his rookie season. His 45 quarterback pressures are the most recorded by a rookie in franchise history.
• Notched two sacks in Week 18, giving him 10.5 on the season. His 10.5 sacks are the most by a rookie this season, the most by a rookie since Micah Parsons in 2021 (13.0) and are the most by a Falcon since Vic Beasley in 2016 (15.5).
• Recorded a half sack in Week 16, his seventh consecutive game with at least a half sack.
• Has recorded eight sacks since Week 10, the third-most among all players over that span, trailing only Myles Garrett (12.0) and Danielle Hunter (9.0).
• Recorded three tackles (two solo), two tackles for loss, two passes defensed and two sacks, giving him eight on the season and seven in his last six games in Week 15.
• Passed Mike Pitts (seven) in Week 15 for the most sacks recorded by a rookie in a season in franchise history (eight), since sacks became an official statistic in 1982. Pro Football Hall of Famer Claude Humphrey was credited with 11.5 sacks during his rookie season in 1968. Pearce recorded a sack in a sixth consecutive game, becoming the fourth rookie since sacks became an official statistic in 1982 to record a sack in six consecutive games, joining Mike Croel (1991), Jevon Kearse (1999) and Micah Parsons (2021).
• Notched two tackles in Week 14 and extended his streak of games with at least one sack to five, the longest streak by a rookie in the NFL this season. He also becomes the first rookie to record a sack in six consecutive games in franchise history.
• Recorded his first-career strip sack, which was recovered by Atlanta in Week 10. He finished the contest with one tackle, one sack, one pass defense and one forced fumble.
• Recorded his first-career fumble recovery and returned it to the Patriots' six-yard line, leading to an Atlanta
  touchdown in Week 9.
• Made his first professional start in Week 8, finishing the contest with a career-high four tackles (two solo) and one quarterback hit.
• Notched a solo tackle and a tackle for loss in Week 6.
• Made his first career 0.5 sack in Week 2 against the Vikings (9/14/25).

HONORS

• PFWA All-Rookie Team (2025)
• NFL Defensive Rookie of the Month (Dec. 2025)

COLLEGE

• Appeared in 39 games over three seasons (2022-24) for Tennessee, totaling 71 tackles (44 solo), 19.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, three passes defensed and one interception.
• Totaled a team-leading 7.5 sacks and 13 tackles for loss in 2024, also recording 38 tackles (23 solo).
• Earned back-to-back first-team All-SEC honors in his sophomore and junior seasons and was a 2024 Bednarik Award semifinalist, presented annually to the nation's defensive player of the year.
• Started in all 13 games in 2014, logging 38 tackles (23 solo), 13 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, one pass defense, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.
• Named a semifinalist for both the Lombardi award and the Walter Camp Player of the Year in 2024.
• Led Tennessee in tackles for loss (13), sacks (7.5) and quarterback hits (10). His tackles for loss and sack total both ranked 10th in the SEC.
• Appeared in 13 games (three starts) in 2023, recording 28 tackles (23 solo), 15 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, two passes defensed, two forced fumbles and one interception returned for 52 yards.
• Earned first-team All-SEC recognition from both AP and coaches in 2023. His 21.3 percent pressure rate and 92.4 pass-rush grade both ranked third in the nation. He tied for the SEC lead in sacks (10) and ranked second in the league tackles for loss (13).
• Played in all 13 games his freshman year in 2022, logging five tackles (three solo), two tackles for loss and two sacks.

PERSONAL

• Native of Charlotte, N.C.
• Attended Chambers High School, where he won four consecutive North Carolina class 4A State Championship games, including back-to-back state titles in 2019 and 2020.