Former Tennessee Volunteers linebacker James Pearce Jr. was made up after being selected by the Atlanta Falcons on Thursday, with his girlfriend on hand to congratulate him following the lifechanging

“The Los Angeles Rams have traded the 26th pick to the Atlanta Falcons,” NFL commissioner Roger Goodell announced that evening in a video that was shared by the organization on X. “With the 26th pick in the 2025 NFL draft, the Atlanta Falcons select James Pearce Jr., defensive end, Tennessee.”

Los Angeles Sparks star Rickea Jackson seemed to raise some eyebrows during the opening round of the 2025 NFL Draft. Videos circulated across social media Thursday night that apparently showed the 24-year-old WNBA player sitting next to the former Tennessee football star James Pearce Jr.