Chiefs' Rashee Rice Suspended Six Games for Personal Conduct Policy Violation

The Kansas City Chiefs will be without one of their key offensive weapons to start the 2025 season. Wide receiver Rashee Rice has been suspended for the first six games of the regular season for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy, the league announced on Wednesday.

The suspension, which was initially reported by NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero, is effective immediately and will be served without appeal, following an agreement between the NFL and the NFL Players Association. Rice, who will not be paid during this period, is also prohibited from practicing with the Chiefs and will not be eligible for reinstatement until October 13, after the team's Week 6 game against the Detroit Lions.

The suspension stems from a multi-vehicle collision in Dallas on March 30, 2024, in which Rice and another driver were involved. According to prosecutors, Rice was driving a Lamborghini Urus SUV at 119 mph when he caused the chain-reaction crash and then fled the scene on foot without checking on the victims. Rice pleaded guilty to two third-degree felony charges and was sentenced to 30 days in jail, which he is allowed to serve at a time of his choosing. He also paid approximately $115,000 to the victims for their medical expenses.

The six-game suspension marks a resolution to a disciplinary matter that was initially contentious. The NFL had reportedly proposed a double-digit suspension, which Rice's legal team and the NFLPA pushed back on due to a lack of precedent for such a lengthy suspension in a similar situation. The agreement avoids a formal disciplinary hearing that had been scheduled for late September.

As a result of the suspension, Rice will miss a number of high-profile matchups, including the Chiefs' season opener against the Los Angeles Chargers in Brazil, a Super Bowl rematch against the Philadelphia Eagles, and key games against the Baltimore Ravens and Detroit Lions. He will be eligible to make his 2025 regular season debut in Week 7 against the Las Vegas Raiders.

Heading into his third NFL season, Rice was a crucial part of the Chiefs' offense. In his rookie year, he led the team’s wide receivers with 79 receptions for 938 yards and seven touchdowns. He played just four games in 2024 before a season-ending knee injury, but he participated fully in training camp and saw action in two preseason games. The Chiefs will now have to adjust their offense without one of their most productive receivers for the first six weeks of the season.