The Kansas City Chiefs, Super Bowl champions in three of the last six seasons, lost their third consecutive game on Sunday, going back to Super Bowl 59 in February when they lost to the Philadelphia Eagles. By dropping another one to the Eagles following their Week One defeat to the Los Angeles Chargers, the Chiefs have now lost three straight for the first time in the Patrick Mahomes/Travis Kelce era.
But attention, most of it negative, was focused on Kelce Sunday not only for his performance the field but for a shirt he wore during pregame warm-ups.
Kelce and wide receiver Tyquan Thornton, as well as what was described as a “handful” of their Chiefs teammates warmed up wearing a t-shirt printed with pictures of suspended Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice, with the logo “Free 4,” referring to Rice’s uniform number.
Rice Injured 4 in Felony Car Crash
Rice is currently serving a six-game suspension for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy. Rice struck a plea bargain with Dallas, Texas, prosecutors in July, admitting to two felonies, “collision involving serious bodily injury and racing on a highway causing bodily injury,” according to an ESPN.com report.
The charges stemmed from a March 30, 2024, incident in which Rice raced his Lamborghini Urus — a vehicle that typically retails for more than $240,000 — at speeds reported at 119 mph on U.S. Highway 75 in Dallas, causing a multi-car wreck that injured four people in other cars — and clearly could have been much worse.
One occupant of another car in the wreck was a three-year-old child, according to a report by KXAS-TV in Dallas.
Wearing Rice Shirts Deemed ‘Disgusting’
The 25-year-old, third-year receiver was initially charged with “one count of aggravated assault, one count of collision involving serious bodily injury, and six counts of collision involving injury in connection with the crash,” according to KXAS. Rice also allegedly fled the scene of the crash on foot, but was not charged in connection with leaving the scene.
As a result of his plea bargain, Rice was sentenced in July to five years probation and a 30-day jail sentence which he may serve at any time during his five-year probationary period. He was also ordered by a judge to pay $115,482 to the crash’s victims to cover their medical bills.
While the Eagles made their point to the Chiefs on the field Sunday, one Philadelphia sports site, The Liberty Tree, blasted Kelce and his teammates for what it called their “disgusting behavior” in “wearing Rice’s mug on their chest before a nationally televised game like it’s some noble cause.
Fans Lash Out at Chiefs Players Over Shirts
Some Chiefs fans online were not any happier, however.
“I am officially done with this team. 119 MPH and injuring people? How much money was paid to keep him out of jail,” wrote one fan online. “6 game suspension and they wear these stupid T-shirts?”
“Drove 119 MPH and almost killed multiple people. Chiefs players: ‘Yeah, free that guy,'” wrote another.
“This is embarrassing, do better Kelce,” another posted.
Kelce Dropped Pass Leads to Chiefs’ Loss
“Seriously? The man was speeding and caused a multi vehicle collision and we want to free him? Screw you @tkelce,” another fan wrote. Many more online comments echoed those sentiments of disapproval.
In the game itself, Kelce played a pivotal role in causing his team to lose when he dropped a six-yard pass to the end zone from Mahomes, bobbling the ball into the arms of Eagles rookie safety Andrew Mukuba, who returned the interception 41 yards.
Travis Kelce Under Fire For ‘Disgusting Behavior’ Before Loss to Eagles