Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice has been suspended for six games by the NFL following his involvement in a multi-vehicle crash in Dallas earlier this year. The 25-year-old, who pleaded guilty to two third-degree felony charges in connection with the March 2024 incident, will serve the ban without appeal and will be barred from both games and training activities during the suspension. The crash left several people injured, and Rice was granted deferred adjudication after receiving a 30-day jail sentence.
The ban means Rice will be unavailable for the Chiefs’ high-profile season opener against the Los Angeles Chargers in São Paulo, Brazil, on 5 September. He will also miss games against the Philadelphia Eagles, New York Giants, Baltimore Ravens, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Detroit Lions before becoming eligible to return in Week 7 against the Las Vegas Raiders on 19 October. The NFL confirmed that an agreement on the length of the suspension was reached with the NFL Players Association before a scheduled disciplinary hearing later this month.
League officials had initially considered a longer punishment, potentially sidelining Rice for more than half the season, before settling on six games. The ruling is another setback for the wideout, who missed the majority of the 2024 campaign after sustaining a season-ending injury just four games into the year. That disappointment came after a breakout rookie season in 2023, where Rice emerged as a key target for quarterback Patrick Mahomes, recording 79 receptions for 938 yards and seven touchdowns.
In a statement issued following his sentencing, Rice apologised for his actions and acknowledged the impact of the crash on victims and their families. “There have been a lot of sleepless nights thinking about the damages that my actions caused, and I will continue working within my means to make sure that everyone impacted will be made whole,” he said. The wide receiver added that he accepts full responsibility and intends to learn from the experience.
Rice’s absence will force the Chiefs to adjust their offensive plans as they look to defend their AFC crown. While Mahomes still has a wealth of attacking options, Rice had been expected to play a central role in the passing game after showing signs of becoming a reliable long-term weapon. His suspension leaves Kansas City without one of their most dynamic young receivers during a crucial stretch of the early season.
