Travis Kelce and his Kansas City teammate Tyquan Thornton sported t-shirts supporting suspended Chiefs star Rashee Rice before Sunday’s loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.
As a result of the controversial fashion choice, Kelce and Thornton are now facing criticism from an attorney representing one of victims of Rice’s 2024 hit-and-run crash.
‘I respect that Kelce and Thornton support their teammate, but the “gym teacher” needs to talk with the history teacher,’ attorney Marc Lenahan told TMZ.
The ‘gym teacher’ reference is a nod to an online meme about the tight end’s recent engagement to Taylor Swift: ‘Your English teacher and your gym teacher are getting married.’
Lenahan continued by attacking Kelce and Thornton for treating Rice like he’s a political prisoner: ‘Rashee isn’t [South Africa’s] Nelson Mandela or [Uruguay’s] Pepe Mujica, men who fought for what they believed in.’
The 25-year-old Rice is two games into his six-game ban after pleading guilty in July to his role in a street-racing pileup on a Dallas highway a year earlier. Video that later went viral showed the Texas native fleeing the six-car accident scene without checking on the condition of other drivers and passengers.
Two individuals were ultimately transported to the hospital while another two were treated for minor injuries at the scene.
A warrant was issued for Rice’s arrest and he later turned himself in to police. He has since been sentenced to five-years probation and 30 days of jail time, which he can serve at any time over the next five years. Furthermore, he was ordered to pay $115,481.91 to the victims for out-of-pocket medical expenses.
One victim, Kathryn Kuykendall, reached an additional agreement on a $1 million settlement with Rice in April. However, her attorney, Lenahan, claims she has yet to be paid.
Travis Kelce shows his support for suspended teammate Rashee Rice on Sunday
Rashee Rice was sentenced to five-years probation and 30 days of jail time, which he can serve at any time over the next five years. He was also ordered to pay victims’ medical bills
‘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,’ Lenahan told TMZ. ‘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.’
Daily Mail has reached out to Rice’s attorney for comment.
Given the gravity of Rice’s offense, Kelce and Thornton’s decision drew criticism online but Chiefs head coach Andy Reid appeared sympathetic towards his players when questioned on the issue in Monday’s press conference.
‘I would tell you, the guys love Rashee, and they feel for him sitting out here. And so I think it’s no more than that,’ the head coach told reporters, according to The Athletic’s Jesse Newell.
‘I just think that those guys, they love the kid and want them to feel part of it in their own way. I really don’t think it’s anything more than that.’
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Tyquan Thornton (80) arrives prior to the game against the Philadelphia Eagles in a shirt showing his support for suspended teammate Rashee Rice
The crash occurred over Easter Weekend in 2024 as Rice was speeding in a rented car
Rice will be eligible to return in Week 7 when the Chiefs face divisional rivals in Tom Brady’s Las Vegas Raiders at Arrowhead on October 19.
Rice has appeared to express remorse over the multi-car crash curing Chiefs preseason, insisting that he has learned his lesson from the incident.
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 Chiefs are now 0-2 without Rice as they head to East Rutherford, New Jersey for Sunday’s game against the 0-2 New York Giants.
