Kansas City Chiefs players were criticized online Sunday for their show of solidarity for wide receiver Rashee Rice.
Tight end Travis Kelce and wide receiver Tyquan Thornton were among a handful of Chiefs players to draw flak for donning warm-up shirts in support of Rice before the team’s Week 2 contest against the Philadelphia Eagles at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo. The shirts had “Free 4” emblazoned on the chest above a collage of photos of the Chiefs wideout, who wears the No. 4.
Free 4 pic.twitter.com/v5tYHZb6Ul
— BBQ Chiefs (@BBQChiefs) September 14, 2025
Several fans felt like the gesture was in poor taste. Rice is currently serving a six-game suspension for his role in causing a multi-car crash in 2024. The suspension comes after Rice was sentenced in July to five years of probation and 30 days in jail.
Many fans slammed the Chiefs for the call to “free” Rice, who was able to dodge a lengthy prison sentence and also avoided an even bigger punishment from the NFL.
Rashee Rice was going 119mph before crashing his Lamborghini, hitting six vehicles, injuring four people, then fleeing the scene. He's lucky nobody died.
— Nick Godin (@FlyingOrr) September 15, 2025
Bizarre behavior from a team considering Rice hasn't shown remorse. His "remorse" was even questioned by the judge as being… https://t.co/3lebVD5Isc
Free Rashee Rice, who is literally chillin' at the crib facing the most minimal consequences imaginable for his actions. pic.twitter.com/Q3iis6n0FI
— CantaLoupe (@CantALoupe_FF) September 15, 2025
Maybe I’m gonna sound like an old man punching air rn but this is just a plain bad and corny look IMO.
— Carter Donnick (@CDonnick1) September 15, 2025
Caused a car crash that could’ve killed multiple people and he himself *accepted* a 6 game suspension.
What are we freeing? This isn’t just some personal drug use or whatever https://t.co/9YzQZi6MeS
Wait… Rashee Rice willingly drove a Lamborghini 120mph on an interstate. Proceeded to drive it onto the shoulder, lose control, and cause a multi-car pileup, injuring several including children. And pleaded guilty to 2 felonies…
— Ethan Narber (@Ethan_Narber) September 15, 2025
What do you MEAN free #4? https://t.co/g0wEf9PUfD
Rice was accused of recklessly driving a Lamborghini down a freeway at 119 mph when he lost control while racing another driver in a Corvette. The two cars caused a crash that affected six other vehicles and injured four people. The drivers of the two sports cars both fled the scene (video footage here).
