In April 2025, Rashee Rice agreed to pay $1 million to Kathryn Kuykendall, who was injured when his Lamborghini struck the Uber she was travelling in during the March 2024 Dallas crash. But the settlement soon ran into trouble. When the first payment came due, Kuykendall’s attorney, Marc Lenahan, said Rice had no money in his bank account. His Chiefs paychecks have since been garnished, but much of the amount remains unpaid.

Kuykendall is now Rice’s biggest creditor, with nearly $980,000 still outstanding. Yet even that isn’t the full picture. The wide receiver has other crash-related claims to deal with, a separate lawsuit filed by his former girlfriend, and mounting legal expenses. Some of the claims are disputed, but together they have left him facing a much bigger financial challenge than one unpaid settlement.

“Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice filed for bankruptcy in federal court Wednesday, claiming he has more than $3.45 million in debts, according to federal court records,” reported Nate Taylor and Michael Rothstein of ESPN. “Rice, who filed in the Northern District of Texas bankruptcy court, claimed more than $2.1 million of his debts are tied to varying plaintiffs suing him in civil litigation that have either been settled or are awaiting trial.”

The bankruptcy filing also offers a closer look at who is seeking money from Rice and how much he owes each of them. The listed civil litigation claims include:

• Dacoda Jones (former girlfriend): $200,000 – Jones filed a civil lawsuit in February 2026, accusing Rice of abuse. The claim is listed as disputed.
• Kathryn Kuykendall (crash victim): $979,837 – The largest individual claim listed in the filing.
• Kamlesh Desai (crash victim): $350,000 – Rice disputes this claim.
• Edward Petrovskiy (crash victim): $150,000.
• Irina Gromova (crash victim): $150,000.

The 2024 Dallas Crash Continues to Haunt Rashee Rice

The largest share of Rice’s legal liabilities traces back to March 30, 2024. He was driving his Lamborghini Urus at approximately 119 mph on a Dallas expressway when he lost control and crashed into the centre median. The collision involved six vehicles and left multiple people injured. Rice and the other driver involved, Theodore Knox, left the scene without checking on the victims.

Rice eventually pleaded guilty in July 2025 to two third-degree felony charges: collision involving serious bodily injury and racing on a highway causing bodily injury. He received five years of deferred probation and a 30-day jail sentence. The NFL also suspended him for the first six games of the 2025 season over his involvement in the crash.

However, the original sentence wasn’t the end of his legal trouble. In May 2026, Rice tested positive for THC during a probation screening, violating the terms of his probation. He was ordered to serve the 30-day jail sentence that had been part of his original plea agreement. Rice was released from Dallas County Jail on June 16.

The timing made matters worse for Kansas City. Rice had undergone surgery on his right knee shortly before reporting to jail and missed the team’s voluntary offseason workouts and mandatory minicamp while serving his sentence. The Chiefs had to prepare for the new season without one of their key receiving options participating in the offseason programme.

The financial consequences of the crash have also extended beyond the settlements with the injured victims. Rice’s bankruptcy schedules show that he paid $206,673.81 towards Kuykendall’s claim through garnishments from his Chiefs paychecks between 2025 and 2026. Despite those deductions, nearly $980,000 remains listed as outstanding.

There is also the cost of defending the civil litigation. Rice owes attorney Thomas McMurray $185,226.45 for his legal services. One particularly striking detail in the filing is that Rice has pledged his Super Bowl LVIII ring, which he values at $160,000, as collateral for $160,000 of that attorney debt. The ring from his biggest career achievement is now tied to his legal expenses.

Dacoda Jones’ Lawsuit Adds Another Legal Battle

The crash isn’t the only source of Rice’s legal expenses. In February 2026, his former girlfriend, Dacoda Jones, filed a civil lawsuit accusing him of physically abusing her repeatedly between December 2023 and July 2025. The complaint described alleged incidents involving choking, hitting, pushing and other physical injuries. Jones sought more than $1 million in damages.

There was a significant development in April, when the NFL closed its investigation into the allegations and decided against disciplining Rice. The league explained its decision by saying, “There was insufficient evidence to support a finding that he violated the personal conduct policy.”

That decision, however, did not amount to a ruling on the civil lawsuit. The two proceedings are separate, and the bankruptcy filing lists a $200,000 claim connected to Jones’ case as disputed. Rice has not been found liable simply because the claim appears in his financial disclosure.

Rashee Rice’s Bankruptcy Filing Reveals More Financial Trouble

The civil claims account for a large portion of Rice’s liabilities, but they aren’t his only financial obligations. The filing also lists $207,104.40 owed to First National Bank of Middle Tennessee for business debt backed by a personal guarantee. Another $140,150 is owed to First National Bank in Killeen, Texas, for an unsecured loan.

His personal financial disclosure also offers an interesting contrast between his reported assets and available cash. Rice listed $421,825 in expected deferred compensation and $53,800 for his 2023 Mercedes-Benz. He also reported $7,500 in clothing and apparel, $5,000 in NFL jerseys and hats, and $13,640 across three checking accounts. He said he rents his residence and does not own any real estate.

The filing puts his reported monthly income at $32,640.31. This is worth noting because his financial difficulties aren’t necessarily a reflection of having no income. Rather, the amount of his reported liabilities is considerably greater than the assets he has declared.

Rice has also identified $39,241 in personal assets as non-exempt. Under Chapter 7 bankruptcy, non-exempt property can be liquidated by a trustee to repay creditors. Eligible remaining debts may eventually be discharged, although not every type of debt is automatically erased. The filing is therefore the beginning of a formal process, not an immediate cancellation of everything Rice owes.

A creditors’ meeting has been scheduled for December 11, according to WFAA’s reporting. That will be an important next step as the bankruptcy proceedings move forward.

Rashee Rice’s Future in Kansas City Hangs in the Balance

The financial situation comes at a particularly important point in Rice’s NFL career. He is in the final year of his four-year rookie contract, which was worth approximately $6.5 million when he signed with Kansas City after being selected in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft. His 2026 base salary is approximately $1.56 million, according to ESPN’s contract reporting.

Rice could be in line for a considerably bigger payday next season. Spotrac’s market-value projection puts his potential value at approximately $37.2 million over two years, although that is an estimate rather than an actual contract offer.

Kansas City could also consider using the franchise tag to retain him for another season. Over The Cap projects the 2027 wide receiver franchise tag at $30.914 million. That figure is not yet official, and using the tag would be a major financial commitment for the Chiefs.

Rice’s availability will be a major factor in that decision. He has appeared in only five games during the 2026 season, recording 20 receptions for 243 yards and two touchdowns. He missed two games with a hamstring injury and has also dealt with knee problems.

He returned against the Denver Broncos on November 1 and caught seven passes for 53 yards and a touchdown. There was some concern about his health again when he was limited in Wednesday’s practice on November 4 because of his hamstring and knee. However, he was a full participant on Thursday, November 5, offering a more encouraging update ahead of Kansas City’s next game.

Still, his injury history is becoming difficult to overlook. Rice missed most of the 2024 season after suffering a serious knee injury against the Los Angeles Chargers. He then missed the first six games of 2025 because of his suspension and finished that season with 53 receptions for 571 yards and five touchdowns in eight appearances. The Chiefs have repeatedly had to adjust their receiving plans around his absence.

Bleacher Report’s Moe Moton believes Kansas City should already be considering other options. He pointed to Xavier Worthy’s development as one of the team’s concerns, noting that the 2024 first-round pick was averaging a career-low 8.5 yards per catch. Importantly, that statistic refers to Worthy, not Rice.

Moton also suggested that Indianapolis Colts receiver Josh Downs should be a priority target for general manager Brett Veach. This is an analyst’s proposed move, not evidence that the Chiefs are negotiating a trade. But it does raise the possibility of Kansas City exploring other receiving options rather than making a major commitment to Rice.

Rice still has an opportunity to strengthen his case over the remainder of the season. His production when available gives Kansas City a reason to consider retaining him, but the injuries and off-field complications make the decision considerably harder. Whether the Chiefs offer him an extension, consider the franchise tag or look elsewhere will be one of the more important questions surrounding their offseason plans.