The Falcons may be facing a major question mark on defense heading into 2026, and it centers around one of their most promising young stars - edge rusher James Pearce.
Pearce, who turned heads in his rookie campaign with 10.5 sacks and a third-place finish in Defensive Rookie of the Year voting, is now dealing with serious off-field legal issues that could impact his availability for the upcoming season. He’s facing multiple charges, including two counts of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, aggravated stalking, fleeing and eluding police, aggravated battery of a law enforcement officer, and resisting an officer without violence. The charges stem from a domestic disturbance involving his ex-girlfriend.
At this point, the Falcons - and defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich - are in wait-and-see mode.
“It’s an unfortunate situation,” Ulbrich said when asked whether the team is preparing to be without Pearce. “Just don’t have all the details of it yet and where this thing will go, so we’ll see.
It’s still so early. We’re not there yet either way.”
Ulbrich didn’t hide his disappointment when the news broke. “I was obviously disappointed,” he said.
And you can understand why. Pearce wasn’t just a first-round pick - the Falcons traded up to get him.
His rookie season delivered on the hype, flashing elite burst off the edge and an ability to finish plays that Atlanta’s pass rush had been missing for years. He was a cornerstone in the making, a player the franchise clearly viewed as a long-term building block on defense.
Now, that future is uncertain.
The Falcons aren’t making any moves just yet, but Ulbrich’s comments reflect the reality of the situation: until there’s clarity on Pearce’s legal status, the team has to prepare for all possibilities - including the very real chance that he might not be available for some or all of the 2026 season.
It’s a tough blow for a defense that had started to show signs of turning the corner. Pearce brought juice off the edge, and his emergence was a big part of what made the Falcons’ front seven more dynamic down the stretch last year. Losing him, even temporarily, would create a significant void - both in terms of production and the ripple effect on the rest of the unit.
For now, Atlanta waits. The legal process will play out, and the team will adjust accordingly. But there’s no denying this is a major development for a franchise that had high hopes for its young pass rusher - and for a defense that was beginning to find its identity with him as a centerpiece.