Legal trouble is once again casting a shadow over the Kansas City Chiefs’ wide receiver Rashee Rice. But this time, it’s unfolding in a courtroom rather than on the field.
Just as the franchise begins gearing up for another crucial offseason stretch, a new civil lawsuit has pulled one of Patrick Mahomes’ top offensive weapons into serious off-field scrutiny.
The filing comes weeks after troubling claims first surfaced publicly, and now the situation has escalated beyond social media into a formal legal battle. With the NFL’s Personal Conduct Policy likely back in play, Rice’s latest off-field issue could carry consequences that stretch far beyond the upcoming season.
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The lawsuit, filed by Rice’s ex-partner Dacoda Nichole Jones, reportedly accuses the Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver of repeated physical abuse during the course of their past relationship.
According to the filing cited by TMZ, Jones alleges that Rice assaulted her on multiple occasions, including an incident in which she claims he struck and strangled her during a confrontation. The civil complaint also outlines what she describes as a pattern of violent behavior that took place while the two were together.
This marks a significant escalation from the allegations Jones first shared publicly in January 2026, when she posted images of visible injuries on social media and described years of mistreatment during their relationship.
Before the current February 2026 civil lawsuit, Rashee Rice’s most serious legal issue stemmed from a March 30, 2024, high-speed crash in Dallas, where he was allegedly involved in a street-racing incident that caused a multi-vehicle collision and injured several people.
Rice turned himself in on April 11, 2024, and was charged with offenses including collision involving serious bodily injury and racing on a highway causing bodily injury.
In July 2025, he pleaded guilty to two third-degree felony charges, receiving 30 days in jail, five years of probation, and being ordered to pay roughly $115,000 in restitution. The crash also led to civil lawsuits from victims seeking damages, some of which were later settled.
And now that the matter has been moved to a formal civil court proceeding, Rashee Rice could face financial liability if the claims are substantiated, while the NFL may also review the situation under its Personal Conduct Policy as the legal process unfolds.
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