After posting a celebratory video marking the end of his six-game NFL suspension, Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice has drawn sharp criticism from former quarterback Ryan Leaf, who accused him of showing poor judgment and a lack of awareness about the events that led to his punishment.
Earlier this week, Rice shared a video on social media showing clips from a workout session as he prepared for his comeback.
The short montage, set to music, showed the receiver running drills and catching passes, seemingly ready to rejoin the Chiefs‘ offense.
For many fans, the post was an encouraging sign of focus and determination. But for others, including Leaf, it struck the wrong tone.
“You’d think this fella was returning from an ACL or something, not a suspension for committing a felony and almost killing people with his vehicle and then just up and leaving!! #Perspective,” Leaf wrote on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.
From high-speed crash to NFL suspension
Rice‘s suspension stems from a March 2024 incident in Dallas involving a high-speed car crash that caused a multi-vehicle pileup.
Police said the Chiefs wide receiver was driving a Lamborghini Urus when he lost control and hit a concrete barrier, triggering a chain reaction that damaged four other cars. The crash resulted in injuries, and Rice fled the scene before later turning himself in.
In July, a Dallas County judge sentenced Rice to five years of probation and 30 days in jail after he pleaded guilty to multiple charges connected to the incident.
The receiver also reached a $1 million settlement with two victims of the crash, which helped resolve the civil claims against him.
The NFL conducted its own investigation and handed down a suspension in August for violating the league’s personal conduct policy.
Reports indicated that the league initially considered a punishment exceeding ten games, but a negotiated settlement between the NFL, the NFL Players Association, and Rice‘s representatives reduced it to six games.
Leaf‘s comments touched a nerve across the football world, reigniting long-standing conversations about how athletes navigate redemption after off-field misconduct.
The former quarterback, whose own NFL career was derailed by personal and legal troubles, has become a vocal advocate for accountability among professional athletes.
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