The Kansas City Chiefs are trying to revamp their offense around star quarterback Patrick Mahomes this offseason, even as he works his way back from a torn ACL and LCL he suffered late in the 2025 campaign. The hope is that wide receiver Rashee Rice will be a big part of the team’s plans, but he continues to struggle to find a way to stay on the field.
Rice has dealt with injuries and off-field issues early on in his career, with a street racing incident from 2024 continuing to linger over his head. Rice’s case for his involvement in this incident is set to head to trial in June, but before his situation gets resolved, his co-defendant, former SMU Mustangs teammate Theodore Knox, received a $2.8 million update on his case.
Rashee Rice’s Co-Defendant Ordered to Pay $2.8 Million
Rice was selected by the Chiefs in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft, and when he’s been on the field, he’s appeared capable of becoming Mahomes’ next top target on offense now that Tyreek Hill is gone and Travis Kelce is approaching the end of his career. The problem is that Rice has played in just 12 total games over the past two years.
In 2025, Rice was suspended for the first six games of the season, but when he returned, he quickly reprised his role as the team’s top wide receiver. In eight games, Rice racked up 53 receptions for 571 yards and five touchdowns, but his inability to stay on the field was one of the reasons why Kansas City missed the playoffs entirely.
One of the off-field issues Rice is dealing with is due to his involvement in a street racing accident with Knox in 2024. Rice and Knox lost control of their cars on a highway in Dallas, leading to a large crash that caused serious injuries to several folks involved. On Wednesday, a Texas court ruled a default judgment against Knox that will total $2.88 million, which provides insight as to what could take place in Rice’s upcoming trial.
“A Texas court issued a default judgment of more than $2.8 million against Theodore Knox, the co-defendant in one of the lawsuits against Kansas City Chiefs receiver Rashee Rice stemming from a 2024 street racing crash,” Michael Rothstein and Nate Taylor of ESPN reported. “Judge Kim Bailey Phipps ruled that Knox, one of Rice’s teammates at Southern Methodist University, was “grossly negligent” after he and Rice lost control of their cars and crashed.”
Rashee Rice Remains in Hot Water as Chiefs Prepare for 2026 Campaign
GettyARLINGTON, TEXAS – NOVEMBER 27: Rashee Rice #4 of the Kansas City Chiefs warms up before the game against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on November 27, 2025 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
In addition to Rice’s aforementioned case, he is facing another case tied to this incident that is set to go to trial in 2027. Rice is also facing a separate lawsuit filed by his former girlfriend, Dacoda Jones, who alleges that the Chiefs’ wide receiver repeatedly assaulted her over an 18-month span from 2023 to 2025.
While Rice won’t face repercussions from the NFL for his involvement in the latter case, he could still be punished in all three of these cases. Ideally, Kansas City will see that Rice has cleaned up his act before handing him a huge contract extension, but it looks like his legal woes are set to continue unfolding over the next few months.
Chiefs’ Rashee Rice Receives $2.8 Million Update in Street Racing Case