James Pearce Jr. at Center of Heated Falcons Camp Skirmishes

Tensions escalated during Sunday’s Atlanta Falcons training camp as several confrontations broke out during live drills between the offensive and defensive units, marking the first real flashes of conflict of the 2025 camp. Rookie edge rusher James Pearce Jr. was at the center of two separate altercations—first with left guard Matthew Bergeron, where a helmet came off during the scuffle, and shortly after with right tackle Kaleb McGary. 

Veteran edge presence Leonard Floyd quickly stepped in to back Pearce in both incidents, while the offensive line rallied around Bergeron and McGary.  The exchanges prompted defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich to step in, calling the intensity a widespread physical statement—yet noting that it “went a little too far.” He emphasized the importance of managing aggression and maintaining discipline even amid physical play. 

Ulbrich admitted that while he wants the defense to play with urgency and physicality, the focus must be on control: “you got to anticipate punches being thrown… and in those moments, you gotta thrive and not retaliate.” 

Head coach Raheem Morris had previously made it clear that he doesn’t want fights during practice, yet the intensity of Sunday’s session drew commentary from across the staff. Offensive line coach Dwayne Ledford compared the training to “off-roading in a nice truck,” acknowledging that while clashes happen, they serve a purpose in testing the group’s cohesion and competitive edge. 

Despite the blow-ups, the energy has drawn a wave of attention—and not necessarily negative. One outlet referred to the scene as “fans of the Atlanta Falcons are either pumped up right now, or suffering from a massive headache” as camp “went a little too far” for some. 

From what’s emerging, James Pearce Jr. is making a mark in his early camp showing—not just in pass-rush effort, but by bringing a competitive fire that hasn’t gone unnoticed. 

The confrontations serve as a potential turning point early in camp: a reminder of how emotions can escalate in competitive settings and how the coaching staff values intensity—so long as it stays within bounds.