The legal situation surrounding Rashee Rice has reached a conclusion. The Chiefs receiver was sentenced on Thursday to five years probation and 30 days in jail, as first reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter. 
The prison sentence can be served at any time within that five-year period. Schefter adds Rice also received deferred adjudication, meaning that if he completes the probation process his case will be dismissed. This development paves the way for the NFL to move forward with its own investigation and potential discipline against Rice.
“We have been closely monitoring all developments in the matter which remains under review,” an NFL spokesman said in a statement (via Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports). The Chiefs declined to comment (h/t Jones).
Rice was one of two people driving when a Lamborghini SUV and a Corvette lost control the night of March 30, 2024. He and all five other total occupants of the two vehicles fled the scene after the accident, which came about while Rice and former college teammate Theodore Knox were believed to be street racing. Rice became the subject of an arrest warrant days later and turned himself in to police. The 25-year-old faced a total of eight felony charges stemming from the incident.
As noted by the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office (via NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero), Rice entered into a plea agreement on two third-degree felonies (collision involving serious bodily injury and racing on a highway causing bodily injury). Prior to the agreement, Rice had already paid for the victims’ medical costs, totaling roughly $115K.
“Last March, I was involved in a high-speed accident in Dallas,” a statement from Rice (delivered through his attorney) reads. “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. I urge everyone to mind the speed limit, drive safe and drive smart.
“Last and certainly not least, 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.”
Without a legal resolution in place by the start of the 2024 regular season, the NFL declined to place Rice on the commissioner’s exempt list. That allowed him to play and led to the expectation a suspension would not be handed down until 2025. In Week 4, the SMU product suffered a knee injury which was initially feared to be an ACL tear; further testing revealed that was not the case.
Nevertheless, Rice’s knee surgery ended his season and left the Chiefs shorthanded at the receiver spot. Two years remain on the former second-rounder’s rookie contract, and he is slated to be healthy in time for training camp. Of course, it now remains to be seen if he will be with the team at the onset of camp or if he will use the period between now and the start of the campaign to serve his jail time. In any case, today’s update should open to door to a decision regarding a suspension being made in the near future.
8 felonies and he only gets 30 days in jail to serve when he feels like it. Someone make that make sense.
He was probably backed by the NFLPA, who are ultra rich. Rich people don’t get in trouble in the US.
Millionaires and billionaires don’t have to play by the same rules as the rest of us.
Blind justice Smh
He’s good at sports.
The Chiefs seem to have a knack for finding players who do things they get off easy for.
Tyreek Hill, Frank Clark, Rice, etc.
Its a much bigger list than that. The Chiefs love having woman beaters and DUI drivers on their team. The more injuries they have doled out, the better. Even Andy Reid’s son got pardoned by the governor for putting a little girl in a coma! Its literally a mafia ring they got going on over there. Waiting until they sign Henry Ruggs to replace Rice while he is suspended. Not only did Rice beat his girl, he also disabled two passengers!
It’s the ninth one that gets you, so he’s good.
Lmao oh brother.
Hate me if you want, but I’m pulling for a torn ACL now.
Karma needs to do what the NFL and justice system refuse to
Well, that already happened. Seems like karma worked faster than the state of Texas this time
Justice is blind unless it sees green.
There are still people in jail for weed possession.
There are at least two women in jail for 5 plus years for voting.
Corrupt doesn’t even begin to describe…
Justice is color blind except for green.