The Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver avoided discipline after the NFL closed its probe into abuse allegations filed by his former girlfriend, who is still pursuing a civil lawsuit seeking over $1 mill
The NFL has closed its investigation into domestic abuse allegations against Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice and determined that no disciplinary action is warranted. The league announced Friday that it found insufficient evidence to conclude Rice had violated its personal conduct policy. The civil lawsuit filed by his former girlfriend, Dacoda Jones, remains active.
The Chiefs have not issued a public statement in response to the NFL’s decision. Rice’s attorney, Sean Lindsey, told The Associated Press and ESPN that Rice appreciated the league’s review and was focused on the upcoming 2026-27 season.
What Jones alleged in her lawsuit
Jones filed her lawsuit in Dallas County District Court on Feb. 16. According to court documents, she alleged that Rice physically assaulted her on multiple occasions at residences in Texas and Missouri between December 2023 and July 2025. The lawsuit describes a pattern of escalating violence over that period, with Jones alleging that Rice grabbed, choked, strangled, pushed, thrown, scratched, hit, and headbutted her, and also threw objects, destroyed property, and locked her out of the home on separate occasions.
The petition further alleges that some of the incidents took place while Jones was pregnant and resulted in physical injuries including bleeding, swelling, bruising, and other pain to multiple parts of her body. She is seeking at least $1 million in damages. Rice was served notice of the lawsuit on Feb. 18, per court records.
Before the lawsuit was filed, Jones posted photographs in January showing bruises and wounds on her body, alleging she had been abused. She did not name Rice in that post, and the images have since been deleted.
How Rice’s legal team has responded
Lindsey, responding to the lawsuit in February, pointed to a sworn affidavit Jones had signed on Oct. 9, 2025, in which she stated under penalty of perjury that Rice and she had a verbal argument but that he did not punch her. Rice’s legal team cited that affidavit as the basis for their position and indicated they would allow the legal process to proceed without further comment at that time.
Rice and Jones share two children and were previously in a long-term relationship.
Rice and his recent legal history
The NFL’s decision on the abuse investigation is not the first time the league has had to weigh discipline for Rice. During the 2024 offseason, he was involved in a high-speed crash on a Dallas highway that left multiple people injured. He served a six-game suspension tied to that incident and later pleaded guilty to third-degree felony charges. He was sentenced to 30 days in jail and five years of probation.
That background matters because the NFL’s personal conduct policy is designed to account for behavior both on and off the field, and Rice’s file already carried significant weight before Jones filed her suit. The league reviewed the abuse allegations separately and reached its own conclusion, though it has not disclosed what evidence it examined or what investigative steps it took.
What the NFL’s finding does and does not resolve
The league’s determination clears Rice of league-level consequences heading into the new season, but it does not resolve the civil case Jones is pursuing in Dallas County. A finding of insufficient evidence under the NFL’s internal process carries no legal weight in a civil court proceeding. The two are separate tracks, and Jones’ lawsuit will continue on its own timeline regardless of what the league decided.
The Chiefs’ silence on the matter leaves open the question of how the organization views Rice’s standing within the team, though his return to the roster for the 2026-27 season appears to be the working assumption based on his attorney’s statement.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, the National Domestic Violence Hotline is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 1-800-799-7233 or thehotline.org.