Travis Kelce is under fire for his pregame attire in support of embattled Chiefs teammate Rashee Rice, who is currently serving a six-game suspension for his involvement in a multi-car crash in Texas last year.
Prior to kickoff Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium, the All-Pro tight end and teammate Tyquan Thornton were photographed wearing “Free 4” T-shirts with multiple photos of Rice — a decision that was ripped by an attorney representing an individual injured in the 2024 wreck.
“Rashee isn’t Nelson Mandela or Pepe Mujica, men who fought for what they believed in. There is evidence that Rashee was going 119 mph in a $1,749 per day Lambo rental that had pot and a pistol in it, on a highway on Easter weekend. Free Rashee? He already thinks he’s getting away scot-free. He’s not paid a single cent of the $1.1 million judgment he already owes our client, who is living anything but pain-free,” Marc Lenahan, who is representing Kathryn Kuykendall, told TMZ in a statement.
Lenahan also referenced a viral high school line taken from Taylor Swift’s engagement post about Kelce, noting, “I respect that Kelce and Thornton support their teammate, but the ‘gym teacher’ needs to talk with the history teacher.”
Rice, a 2023 second-round pick out of SMU, accepted his six-game suspension in August after violating the league’s personal conduct policy in relation to the Dallas incident.
The 25-year-old wide receiver was driving a Lamborghini Urus, which reached 119 mph just seconds before the collision.
Rice was sentenced to five years’ probation and 30 days of jail time over the summer.
He will be eligible to return in Week 7 when the Chiefs face the Raiders.
Kansas City is certainly lacking in offensive firepower as the team currently sits at 0-2 following Sunday’s crushing 20-17 loss to the Eagles, who bested them in the Super Bowl back in February.
In addition to Rice, second-year wideout Xavier Worthy missed Week 2 after colliding with Kelce in the Chiefs’ season-opening loss to the Chargers on Sept. 5.
Kelce also had a rough outing Sunday with a crucial second-half drop that resulted in a Philly turnover.
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Chiefs head coach Andy Reid dissected the loss Monday during an appearance on Sports Radio 810, where he addressed his players’ decision to wear the Rice shirts.
“I would tell you, I know these guys love Rashee and they feel for him sitting out here, and so, I think it’s no more than that,” Reid said. “I just think that those guys, they love the kid and want him to feel part of it in their own way. I really don’t think it’s anything more than that.”
The Chiefs visit the winless Giants this week on “Sunday Night Football.”