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Some members of the Kansas City Chiefs wore t-shirts calling for the “freeing” of teammate Rashee Rice, who was suspended by the NFL for the first six games of the 2025 NFL season. The reaction to the Chiefs’ display of unity with Rice was met with swift consternation.
Rashee Rice is not in a Josh Gordon-esque situation where he was suspended for something harmless like smoking weed, or a Colin Kaepernick situation where he’s being systematically blackballed from the league. The 25-year-old SMU product has been charged with collision involving serious bodily injury and racing on a highway causing bodily injury after his 119 mph speeds and “aggressive maneuvers” caused a six-car accident that left seven people with injuries.
Additionally, Rice and four other men were seen leaving the scene of the crime without seeing if any of the injured needed assistance. Luckily for Rice and everyone involved, no one was fatally wounded in the crash.
Kansas City Chiefs players Travis Kelce, Tyquan Thornton ripped for ‘gross’ Rashee Rice t-shirts
Despite this, however, prior to the Chiefs Week 2 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in a Super Bowl rematch, tight end Travis Kelce (above) and wide receiver Tyquan Thornton were photograpged wearing warmup t-shirts with photos of Rice on them, along with the phrase “Free 4.”
Maybe I’m gonna sound like an old man punching air rn but this is just a plain bad and corny look IMO.
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
— Carter Donnick (@CDonnick1) September 15, 2025
#Chiefs Tyquan Thornton wearing a “Free 4” shirt #ChiefsKingdom pic.twitter.com/d9b1Mkoa3i
— Matt Foster (@MattFosterTV) September 14, 2025
The… the guy who almost killed a bunch of people and fled the scene? And didn't even go to prison? https://t.co/6jR7CUwWnD
— Joe (@JoeA_NFL) September 15, 2025
“Free 4? The man caused a multi car crash due to his reckless driving He’s just lucky he didn’t kill anyone,” one frustrated response read on Twitter.
“This is gross. The reason 4 isn’t “free” is because of his own stupidity. Come on,” read another angered reaction.
“Okay well how about allllll of the Chiefs players pitch in to pay the remaining $1M he owes to one of the victims that Rashee Rice left at the scene?” a third questioned.
“He [Kelce] is such a f—— idiot for this i am actually losing respect for him. Chiefs #4 Rashee Rice not only has been charged with aggravated assault, but he also was speeding 120mph and caused a multi-car pile up, CRITICALLY injuring multiple people, and then fled the scene,” summarized a fourth.
In July, Rice plead guilty to the two aforementioned felony charges and wa sentenced to five years of probation and 30 days of jail time that can be served during those five years.