Kansas City’s professional football team acknowledged on Wednesday night that they were informed of allegations of domestic violence made by a former partner of wide receiver Rashee Rice through a series of social media posts. The team stated that they were in contact with the NFL regarding the matter but refrained from mentioning Rice by name in their announcement, indicating that they would not provide any further comments at present.
The ex-girlfriend, Dacoda Nichole Jones, shared a set of photos on Instagram earlier the same day, implying signs of physical abuse without directly identifying Rice. Jones specified that the individual involved was the father of her children, with Rice being the father of her two children. Rice, who was drafted by Kansas City in the second round of the 2023 draft, has been accused of the alleged abuse in Overland Park, Kansas, although no official police reports from the area have been released.
Rice faced a suspension by the NFL at the beginning of the season, causing him to miss the first six games due to his involvement in a crash on a Dallas highway during the 2024 offseason. Following a guilty plea to third-degree felony charges related to the incident, including causing a collision resulting in serious bodily injury and racing on a highway leading to bodily harm, Rice received a 30-day jail sentence and five years of probation. Despite his off-field troubles, Rice managed to record 53 receptions for 571 yards and five touchdowns during the season, although Kansas City struggled with a 6-11 record, missing the playoffs for the first time in ten years.