Chiefs’ Rashee Rice Faces Lawsuit Over Alleged Repeated Assaults

A civil lawsuit filed Monday in Dallas County District Court accuses Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice of assaulting his ex-girlfriend Dacoda Jones multiple times over 18 months, from December 2023 to July 2025. Jones, the mother of Rice's two children, claims the attacks happened while she was pregnant and seeks more than $1 million in damages for her injuries.

Background

Rashee Rice joined the Chiefs as a second-round draft pick in 2023. He quickly became a key player on the team, catching passes from Patrick Mahomes during their Super Bowl runs. Off the field, Rice has faced legal issues before. In 2024, he drove at 119 miles per hour in Dallas, causing a multicar crash. He pleaded guilty to felony charges of collision involving serious bodily injury and racing on a highway. A judge sentenced him to 30 days in jail, five years of probation, and over $115,000 in restitution to crash victims. The NFL suspended him for the first six games of the 2025 season over that incident.

Jones and Rice dated for years. They lived together in places like Lee's Summit, Missouri, near Kansas City, and Victory Park in Dallas, Texas. Jones says she was pregnant during much of their time together. She first shared her story publicly last month on Instagram, posting photos of bruises on her lip, legs, chest, face, and shoulders. She also showed damaged furniture and walls. In the post, now deleted, Jones called Rice the father of her children but did not name him directly. She wrote about eight years of hardship and said things got worse after their breakup in 2025.

“I’m so tired of keeping quiet. I’m so tired of protecting his image. I’ve been through too much in a span of 8 years and I’ve had ENOUGH!” – Dacoda Jones, Instagram post

The NFL started looking into her claims after those posts. The league's personal conduct policy covers such matters. Jones' lawyers have not commented on the suit. Rice's team and agents did not respond right away to questions.

Key Details

The lawsuit lays out a pattern of abuse at their homes in Texas and Missouri. Jones says Rice grabbed her, choked her, strangled her, pushed her, threw her, scratched her, hit her, and headbutted her. He also hit her with objects, punched walls, broke furniture, and locked her out of the apartment at night. Many incidents happened when she was pregnant with their children.

Specific Incidents

One event stands out from December 2023. Jones alleges Rice strangled her then. The suit claims he caused injuries to her neck, back, and face, leading to permanent damage. She describes ongoing pain, mental suffering, physical limits, disfigurement, and lost wages. Future medical bills are also part of her claim.

No police reports have surfaced yet from Dallas or Kansas City areas. Requests for records turned up nothing so far. On October 9, 2025, after their relationship ended, Jones signed an affidavit saying Rice did not punch her during a verbal argument. That document came in a non-prosecution case. The new lawsuit does not mention that date or any punching.

Rice's lawyer, Sean Lindsey, pointed to that affidavit in response.

“On October 9th, 2025, well after the parties' relationship had ended, Ms. Jones stated under penalty of perjury in a sworn Affidavit for Non-Prosecution that ‘Mr. Rice and I had a verbal argument, but he did not punch me.’” – Sean Lindsey, Rice's attorney

The Chiefs put out a short statement Wednesday. They said they know about the lawsuit and are talking with the NFL.

What This Means

This suit adds to Rice's troubles as he tries to stay on the Chiefs roster. The team relies on him for offense, but repeated issues could change that. The NFL's review might lead to another suspension or worse. Rice served his jail time and probation for the crash, but this civil case focuses on personal conduct.

Jones' claims highlight domestic violence in sports. Many players face such accusations over time. The league has rules to handle them, often with investigations by its office. Outcomes depend on evidence, like photos, witness accounts, or records. Police involvement could make things more serious if charges follow.

Rice returned strong after his 2025 suspension. He played key games, helping the Chiefs. Now, with this lawsuit public, his focus might shift. Training camps start soon, and teams watch player behavior closely. Fans and sponsors also pay attention to off-field actions.

The case will move through Texas courts. Jones wants compensation for her claimed harms. Rice's side plans to fight it. Discovery could bring out more details, like messages, medical records, or witness statements. A trial might take months or settle earlier.

For the Chiefs, this comes at a busy time. They aim for another title. Rice's role matters, but the team stresses conduct. The NFL wants clean images for its stars. Jones' story, if proven, could impact Rice's career long-term. Both sides prepare for a long legal fight while Rice eyes the field.