Scandalized Chiefs star Rashee Rice free to start the season despite jail sentence for causing car crash

The Kansas City Chiefs received a major boost to their hopes for Super Bowl revenge Thursday when it was revealed that Rashee Rice could be available for the start of the season. 

The wide receiver was sentenced to five years' probation and 30 days of jail time - which can be served at any time over the next five years - for his involvement in a hit-and-run crash on a Dallas highway last year. 

However, while the 25-year-old's sentence has already been handed down, he is still awaiting verdict from the NFL. 

It has now been revealed that his disciplinary hearing with the league won't take place until after the new season kicks off, which the date scheduled for September 30, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. 

This means he is likely to be available for the first four weeks of the Chiefs' campaign. 

The Chiefs had been bracing for Rice to serve an NFL suspension but with the league yet to hand down his punishment the wideout remains available for Andy Reid. 

As he awaits a verdict from the league on his punishment, Rice has been at the Chiefs training camp as he looks to make a return from injury. 

Rice suffered ligament injury suffered in Week 4 - after colliding with Patrick Mahomes - which ended his entire 2024 season.  

The wide receiver underwent surgery to resolve the issue and has since been back in action during summer workouts.

Since returning to Chiefs training camp this summer, Rice appeared to express remorse as he insisted that he had learned his lesson from the multi-car crash.

He explained to reporters: 'I've completely changed. You have to learn from things like that. I've learned and taken advantage of being able to learn from something like that.'

'I feel 100%. I'm excited to be back out here with the guys. Just kind of basically where I left off at,' he added when asked about his comeback from injury. 

'The only thing is get back on the field and continue to have fun doing what I do.' 

Rice was estimated to be speeding at 119mph before the collision, which resulted in several injuries for other motorists and passengers back in 2024.

In a related lawsuit, Rice has agreed to pay $1million to a plaintiff who sued him over the 2024 crash, according to court documents obtained by Daily Mail.

Rice is also being forced to pay $75,000 in pre-judgement interest and $12,000 in plaintiff attorney fees. 

Rice was renting the Lamborghini sport utility vehicle authorities said was one of two speeding sports cars that caused a chain-reaction crash on a Dallas highway in May of 2024. 

The occupants of the Lamborghini and the other speeding vehicle — a Corvette — left without checking on the drivers and passengers in the other four cars involved in the collision. 

A spokesman for the rental company, The Classic Lifestyle, said the Lamborghini rents for about $1,750 a day and is worth about $250,000.

Police said the Corvette and Lamborghini were speeding in the far-left lane of North Central Expressway when they lost control. 

The Lamborghini went onto the shoulder and hit the center median wall, causing a chain-reaction collision. Four people in the other vehicles were treated for minor injuries.

Rice, a member of the Super Bowl LVIII-winning Chiefs team, is from the Dallas area. He played for Southern Methodist University and grew up in the Fort Worth suburb of North Richland Hills.

The 25-year-old has $3.5 million in career earnings and is slated to make $1.3 million in 2025. However, that salary will likely suffer if he misses any games due to suspension.

The Chiefs had been thin at receiver and thus stood by Rice in 2024, after an injury to Marquise Brown during the first game of pre-season. 

Already thin at receiver, the Chiefs stood by Rice in 2024 in spite of the arrest. 

Ultimately Rice's season was ended in Week 4 when he tore his ACL.