Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice has accepted a six-game suspension from the NFL for his involvement in a high-speed crash that left multiple people injured. The incident occurred on a Dallas highway in March 2024.
Rice, 25, pleaded guilty in July to two third-degree felony charges: collision involving serious bodily injury and racing on a highway causing bodily injury. He was sentenced to 30 days in jail and ordered to pay $115,000 in medical costs to the injured parties. Prosecutors said Rice was driving a Lamborghini Urus SUV at 119mph when he made “multiple aggressive maneuvers around traffic” and struck other vehicles.
In a statement at the time of his plea deal, Rice said: “I am profoundly sorry for the physical damages to person and property. I fully apologize for the harm I caused to innocent drivers and their families.”
The NFL handed down the suspension after its own internal investigation, one week before the Chiefs are due to travel to Brazil for their season opener against the Los Angeles Chargers. Rice will also miss a rematch of last season’s Super Bowl with the Philadelphia Eagles on 14 September, a Sunday night game against the New York Giants, a matchup with the Baltimore Ravens on 28 September, a Monday night game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, and a Sunday night showdown with the Detroit Lions. He will be eligible to return on 19 October when Kansas City faces the Las Vegas Raiders.
Rice was selected by the Chiefs in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft. He won the Super Bowl in his first season, catching six passes for 39 yards in Kansas City’s victory over the San Francisco 49ers.
