Kansas City Chiefs receiver Rashee Rice has accepted a six-game NFL ban for his part in a high-speed crash that left a number of people injured.
The 25-year-old pled guilty in July to two third-degree felony charges of collision involving serious bodily injury and racing on a highway causing bodily injury. He was sentenced to 30 days in jail and was required to pay $115,000 in medical costs to the injured parties. The incident took place on a Dallas highway in March 2024. Prosecutors say Rice was driving a Lamborghini Urus SUV at 119mph when he made “multiple aggressive maneuvers around traffic” and struck other vehicles.
Rice said in a statement at the time of his plea deal that: “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 its suspension after its own internal investigation, one week before the Chiefs are due to leave for Brazil, where they will play the Los Angeles Chargers in their season opener. Along with missing the Chargers game, Rice will miss a rematch of last season’s Super Bowl with the Eagles on 14 September at Arrowhead Stadium; a Sunday night trip to New York to face the Giants; a high-profile matchup with Lamar Jackson and the Ravens on 28 September; a game against Jacksonville the following Monday night; and a Sunday night showdown with the Lions. Rice will be eligible to return to the field when Kansas City faces the AFC West-rival Raiders on 19 October.
The Chiefs selected Rice in the second-round of the 2023 draft. He won the Super Bowl in his first season with the team, catching six passes for 39 yards in Kansas City’s victory over the San Francisco 49ers.