Kansas City Chiefs and former SMU wide receiver Rashee Rice was sentenced Thursday to 30 days in jail and five years of probation for his role in a high-speed, multi-car crash in Dallas last year.
Rice, 25, pleaded guilty to a collision involving serious bodily injury and racing on a highway causing bodily injury, which are both third-degree felonies, according to the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office.
The sentence, delivered in Dallas County court, also requires Rice to pay $115,481.91 in restitution to cover the medical expenses of the crash’s victims.
Court records from this case also indicated that Rice settled with one of the crash victims on Wednesday, agreeing to settle one of the civil lawsuits for $1,086,000, with the potential for this price to increase if it is not paid in full, according to Jesse Newell of The Kansas City Star.
Rice’s attorney, Royce West, released a statement about the ruling on behalf of the wide receiver.
“Last March, I was involved in a high-speed accident in Dallas. 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.”
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, this case dates back to March 2024, when Rice was driving at 119 mph and made aggressive maneuvers on US-75 during rush hour traffic, resulting in a chain-reaction crash with multiple vehicles.
Rice’s guilty plea will now open the door for the NFL to begin an investigation into the matter, with the expectation being that he will serve a suspension at some point during the upcoming season, according to NFL Insider Adam Schefter.
NFL Vice President of Communications Brian McCarthy told Schefter in a statement that the league has been “closely monitoring all developments in the matter which remains under review,” with no timeline given for a potential suspension.
Rice is a former SMU wide receiver and second-round pick by the Chiefs in the 2023 NFL Draft.
During his two years in the NFL, Rice has become a major piece for Kansas City, accumulating 288 yards last season in just four games before missing the remainder of the season with a knee injury.