Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice, despite facing serious legal allegations, is reportedly not at risk of NFL disciplinary action for the 2025 season, at least not until his criminal case is fully resolved.
According to recent reports from NBC, the league chose to delay any potential suspension until the legal proceedings conclude.
Rice has been indicted on eight felony charges stemming from a high-speed multi-car accident in March in Dallas, including one count of aggravated assault and multiple counts of collision involving serious bodily injuries.
Although these are grave charges, the NFL appears to be adopting a hands-off approach for now, indicating they will allow the court process to play out before taking any formal action.
The delay in NFL action isn’t without precedent. Commissioner Roger Goodell and league officials have emphasized that they “allow the legal process to move through” as a matter of policy.
Commissioner Goodell has made clear they’re “following [the case] closely” and will make decisions in line with their Personal Conduct Policy once the legal proceedings wrap up.
Sports Illustrated’s Jordan Foote added context to the situation, explaining the league “is not expected” to place Rice on the Commissioner’s Exempt List, reserving final judgment until after the legal resolution.
Echoing this, an NFL spokesperson said, “We continue to closely monitor all developments in the matter which remains under review,” reiterating that any action would wait on the completion of the legal process.
Legal clock tick-tocking
Rice’s legal woes began on March 30, 2024, when Dallas police say he was racing a Lamborghini and Corvette at nearly 119 miles per hour before striking a wall. The crash triggered a chain reaction involving four other vehicles; two individuals were hospitalized, and two more received treatment at the scene.
Immediately afterward, both Rice and the other driver, Theodore Knox, left the scene without checking on others-a departure Dallas police classified as hit-and-run.
Rice surrendered to authorities on April 11 after an arrest warrant was issued; he posted bail and has since maintained he “takes full responsibility for his part in this matter.”
In addition to the criminal case, Rice is defending at least two civil lawsuits-one filed by Edvard Petrovskiy and Irina Gromova (seeking over $10 million) and another by Kamlesh Desai, which includes claims of personal injury and suffering. The trial tied to the first lawsuit is scheduled for June 23, 2025.
Meanwhile, Rice is making efforts to return to play. He suffered a seasonending knee injury during Week 4 of the 2024 season but is expected to be fully recovered and available for the 2025 training camp, which typically begins in mid July.
Throughout this legal uncertainty, Rice has remained active within the Chiefs organization. Training camp and off-season practices are underway, and league officials have reinforced that unless there’s a “material change” in the facts, he won’t be placed on paid leave or barred from the field.
NFL EVP Jeff Miller added the league is “monitoring any developments,” but no disciplinary measures have been taken.
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