Rashee Marquan Rice (born April 22, 2000) is an American professional football wide receiver for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at SMU. He was selected by the Chiefs in the second round of the 2023 NFL draft and won Super Bowl LVIII as a rookie. Rice also holds the NFL record for most playoff receptions by a rookie, catching 26 passes during the Super Bowl run.[1]

Rashee Rice
No. 4 – Kansas City Chiefs
Position:Wide receiver
Personal information
Born: (2000-04-22) April 22, 2000 (age 24)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Height:6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight:203 lb (92 kg)
Career information
High school:Richland (North Richland Hills, Texas)
College:SMU (2019–2022)
NFL draft:2023 / round: 2 / pick: 55
Career history
Roster status:Injured reserve
Career highlights and awards
NFL record
Career NFL statistics as of 2024
Receptions:103
Receiving yards:1,226
Receiving touchdowns:9
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Rice faces criminal charges for his involvement in a March 2024 hit-and-run car crash in Dallas.[2][3][4]

Early life

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Rice was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania but grew up in North Richland Hills, Texas, and attended Richland High School.[5] As a junior, he caught 72 passes for 1,386 yards and 19 touchdowns and was named first team all-district.[6] Rice was rated a three-star recruit and committed to play college football at Southern Methodist University (SMU) entering his senior year.[7] Constantly double teamed his senior season, Rice finished his final high school season with a modest 51 receptions for 841 yards and five touchdowns.[8]

College career

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Rice played in ten games as a freshman and had 25 receptions for 403 yards and one touchdown.[9][10] He became a starter during his sophomore season and caught 48 passes for 683 yards and five touchdowns.[11] Rice had 64 receptions for 670 yards and nine touchdowns and was named honorable mention All-American Athletic Conference (AAC) as a junior.[12][13] In the 2022 season, he had 96 receptions for 1,355 receiving yards and ten receiving touchdowns. He had six games on the year going over 100 receiving yards.[14]

College statistics

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SMU Mustangs
Year G Receiving
Rec Yds Avg TD
2019 10 25 403 16.1 1
2020 10 48 683 14.2 5
2021 12 64 670 10.5 9
2022 12 96 1,355 14.1 10
Career 44 233 3,111 13.4 25

Professional career

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Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump
6 ft 0+58 in
(1.84 m)
204 lb
(93 kg)
32+34 in
(0.83 m)
9+12 in
(0.24 m)
4.51 s 1.49 s 2.54 s 4.23 s 7.02 s 41.0 in
(1.04 m)
10 ft 8 in
(3.25 m)
Sources:[15][16]

Rice was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the second round (55th overall) of the 2023 NFL draft.[17]

2023 season

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In Rice's professional debut in Week 1 against the Detroit Lions, he scored his first career touchdown in a loss.[18] He achieved his first 100 yard receiving game in Week 12 against the Las Vegas Raiders.[19] In Week 15 against the New England Patriots, he broke the Chiefs rookie receiving touchdowns record.[20] In Week 17 against the Bengals, he had five receptions for 127 yards in the 25–17 win.[21] In the Wild Card Round of the playoffs, Rice had eight receptions for 130 yards and a touchdown in the 26–7 win over the Dolphins.[22] The Chiefs reached Super Bowl LVIII in Rice's rookie season, in which Rice caught six passes for 39 yards in a 25–22 victory over the San Francisco 49ers.[23] Rice broke the NFL postseason rookie receptions record, catching 26 passes, one more than previous record-holder Cincinnati Bengals' Ja'Marr Chase two years prior.[1]

2024 season

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Rice opened the 2024 season with seven receptions for 103 yards in the 27–20 victory over the Baltimore Ravens in Week 1.[24] In Week 4 against the Los Angeles Chargers, Rice left the game with a knee injury after he collided with quarterback Patrick Mahomes.[25] The Chiefs placed Rice on injured reserve on October 3, 2024.[26] On October 8, Rice underwent surgery to repair his LCL and hamstring. He will miss the rest of the season and is expected to make a full recovery.[27]

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On March 30, 2024, Rice was the driver of a Lamborghini Urus involved in a high-speed hit and run crash on North Central Expressway in Dallas, together with a Chevrolet Corvette he was leasing.[28][29][30][31] Four other vehicles were damaged in what Dallas police called a "chain reaction collision" after the Lamborghini struck a retaining wall. Video obtained by The Dallas Morning News shows five men disembarking from the Urus and the Corvette and leaving the scene on foot without checking on the occupants of the other four vehicles.[32] Two of those occupants were transported to a hospital, and two others were treated for minor injuries at the scene.[29]

On April 3, Rice met with Dallas police, and in a statement sent to the Morning News, he said that he takes "full responsibility" for his part in the collision. His attorney Royce West said Rice "is cooperating with local authorities and will take all necessary steps to address this situation responsibly."[33] On April 4, West confirmed that Rice had been driving the Lamborghini.[30][31] According to a police report obtained by WFAA, 10.8 grams (0.38 oz) of marijuana were found in the Lamborghini; possession of this amount is a Class B misdemeanor in Texas.[31]

On April 10, Dallas police issued an arrest warrant for Rice and announced that he had been charged with one count of aggravated assault, one count of collision involving serious bodily injury, and six counts of collision involving injuries. The Corvette driver was identified and faces the same charges.[3][4]

On April 11, Rice turned himself in to Glenn Heights police and was briefly jailed in DeSoto before being released later that day on bail.[34][35]

On May 7, Dallas police announced that Rice was under investigation for allegedly punching a photographer at a downtown Dallas club. Rice was not arrested or charged with a crime. On May 21, Dallas police said that the victim declined to press charges.[36][37]

NFL career statistics

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Legend
Won the Super Bowl

Regular season

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Year Team Games Receiving Fumbles
GP GS Rec Yds Avg Lng TD Fum Lost
2023 KC 16 8 79 938 11.9 67 7 2 1
2024 KC 4 4 24 288 12.0 44 2 0 0
Career 20 12 103 1,226 11.9 67 9 2 1

Postseason

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Year Team Games Receiving Fumbles
GP GS Rec Yds Avg Lng TD Fum Lost
2023 KC 4 4 26 262 10.1 39 1 2 0
Career 4 4 26 262 10.1 39 1 2 0

References

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  1. ^ a b "NFL Postseason Receptions: All-Time Rookie Leaders". Opta Analyst. February 9, 2024. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  2. ^ "Rashee Rice: Arrest warrant issued for Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver over crash". BBC News. April 11, 2024. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
  3. ^ a b Gaydos, Ryan (April 10, 2024). "Dallas Police issue arrest warrant for Chiefs' Rashee Rice over crash". Fox Sports. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
  4. ^ a b Landers, Jamie; Smith, Kelli (April 10, 2024). "Kansas City Chiefs WR Rashee Rice faces 8 charges in connection with hit-and-run crash". The Dallas Morning News. Dallas, Texas. Archived from the original on April 10, 2024. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
  5. ^ Palacios, Nathalie; Beachum, Jett (February 8, 2024). "Rashee Rice's Super Bowl journey carries deep ties to North Richland Hills - CBS Texas". CBS News - Texas. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
  6. ^ Holland, EJ (August 6, 2018). "SMU scores big recruiting win in D-FW, lands Richland WR Rashee Rice". Dallas Morning News. Retrieved September 6, 2022.
  7. ^ Gosset, Brian (August 8, 2018). "SMU football: Rashee Rice, a 3-star WR, commits to Mustangs". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Retrieved September 6, 2022.
  8. ^ Craven, Mike (August 22, 2022). "The Lone Star 50: No. 36 Rashee Rice ready to be No. 1 WR for SMU". Dave Campbell's Texas Football. Retrieved September 6, 2022.
  9. ^ Hoyt, Joseph (September 22, 2021). "Rashee Rice is making waves for SMU, and all eyes will be on him in rivalry showdown vs. TCU". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved September 6, 2022.
  10. ^ Vannini, Chris (May 26, 2020). "Coming off its best season in decades, SMU is equipped to sustain success". The Athletic. Retrieved September 6, 2022.
  11. ^ Broback, Joe (March 18, 2021). "Five spring practice questions for the SMU Mustangs". UnderdogDynasty.com. SB Nation. Retrieved September 6, 2022.
  12. ^ "Rashee Rice ready to continue tradition of turning No. 1 WR role at SMU into an NFL career". The Dallas Morning News. March 4, 2022. Retrieved September 6, 2022.
  13. ^ Craven, Mike (August 12, 2022). "If SMU is a new WR-U, Rashee Rice is the latest product". Dave Campbell's Texas Football. Retrieved September 6, 2022.
  14. ^ "Rashee Rice 2022 Game Log". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved September 9, 2023.
  15. ^ "Rashee Rice Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
  16. ^ "2023 NFL Draft Scout Rashee Rice College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
  17. ^ McMullen, Matt (April 29, 2023). "Five Things to Know About Chiefs' Second-Round Pick & Former SMU WR Rashee Rice | 2023 NFL Draft". Chiefs.com. Retrieved September 9, 2023.
  18. ^ Dillon, John (September 8, 2023). "WATCH: Chiefs rookie WR Rashee Rice scores first NFL touchdown vs. Lions". Chiefs Wire. USA Today. Retrieved September 9, 2023.
  19. ^ "Kansas City Chiefs at Las Vegas Raiders - November 26th, 2023". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
  20. ^ Bush, Jared (December 17, 2023). "Rashee Rice sets Chiefs rookie record for receiving touchdowns". Fox4KC.com. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
  21. ^ "Cincinnati Bengals at Kansas City Chiefs - December 31st, 2023". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
  22. ^ "Wild Card - Miami Dolphins at Kansas City Chiefs - January 13th, 2024". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
  23. ^ "Super Bowl LVIII - San Francisco 49ers vs. Kansas City Chiefs - February 11th, 2024". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
  24. ^ "Baltimore Ravens at Kansas City Chiefs - September 5th, 2024". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
  25. ^ Nadkarni, Rohan (September 30, 2024). "Chiefs WR Rashee Rice carted off field after hit to knee". NBC News. Retrieved October 4, 2024.
  26. ^ "Chiefs place leading receiver Rice (knee) on IR". ESPN.com. October 3, 2024. Retrieved October 4, 2024.
  27. ^ Foote, Jordan (October 8, 2024). "Report: Rashee Rice Has Successful LCL Surgery, 'Repair Done' to Hamstring". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved October 9, 2024.
  28. ^ Florio, Mike. "Dashcam video might shed light on who was driving the Lamborghini leased by Rashee Rice". NBC Sports. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  29. ^ a b Smith, Kelli (April 2, 2024). "Rashee Rice rented Lamborghini used in Dallas hit-and-run, rental-car company lawyer says". The Dallas Morning News. Dallas, Texas. Archived from the original on April 3, 2024. Retrieved April 4, 2024.
  30. ^ a b Smith, Kelli; Landers, Jamie (April 4, 2024). "Rashee Rice told Dallas police he drove Lamborghini in hit-and-run crash, attorney says". The Dallas Morning News. Dallas, Texas. Archived from the original on April 4, 2024. Retrieved April 4, 2024.
  31. ^ a b c Snyder, Rachel; Forte, Janel; Howerton, Matt (April 5, 2024). "Rashee Rice told police he was driving the Lamborghini involved in a multi-vehicle crash on Central Expressway in Dallas, attorney says". WFAA. Dallas, Texas. Retrieved April 6, 2024.
  32. ^ Smith, Kelli (April 2, 2024). "Couple injured in Dallas car crash with ties to KC Chiefs' Rashee Rice retains attorney". The Dallas Morning News. Dallas, Texas. Archived from the original on April 3, 2024. Retrieved April 4, 2024.
  33. ^ Smith, Kelli; Landers, Jamie (April 3, 2024). "Rashee Rice meets with Dallas police, takes 'full responsibility' for his part in crash". The Dallas Morning News. Dallas, Texas. Archived from the original on April 4, 2024. Retrieved April 4, 2024.
  34. ^ "Chiefs' Rashee Rice surrenders to police on charges from crash". ESPN.com. Associated Press. April 11, 2024. Retrieved April 12, 2024.
  35. ^ Shaikh, Zaeem (April 11, 2024). "Rashee Rice, Kansas City Chiefs WR, surrenders after Dallas hit-and-run crash". The Dallas Morning News. Dallas, Texas. Archived from the original on April 12, 2024. Retrieved April 12, 2024.
  36. ^ Smith, Kelli; Landers, Jamie (May 7, 2024). "Kansas City Chiefs' Rashee Rice suspected in downtown Dallas assault, police say". The Dallas Morning News. Dallas, Texas. Archived from the original on May 8, 2024. Retrieved May 8, 2024.
  37. ^ Smith, Kelli; Landers, Jamie (May 21, 2024). "Photographer declines to pursue charges in assault case Dallas police tied to Rashee Rice". The Dallas Morning News. Dallas, Texas. Archived from the original on May 22, 2024. Retrieved May 23, 2024.
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