Victim's Lawyer Condemns Travis Kelce for Wearing T-Shirt Supporting Rashee Rice

A lawyer for one of the victims of the crash involving Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice criticized tight end Travis Kelce on Monday for wearing a T-shirt that showed support for the suspended receiver.

Kelce and teammate Ty'Quan Thornton entered GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday ahead of the Chiefs' Super Bowl LIX rematch with the Philadelphia Eagles wearing graphic shirts that read "Free 4" and featured photos of Rice, a third-year receiver who is serving a six-game suspension related to the April crash in Dallas.

March Lenahan, who represents one of the people hurt in the crash, issued a statement saying he respected team support for a teammate but called Kelce's choice of apparel inappropriate given the circumstances. "The 'gym teacher' needs to talk with the history teacher," Lenahan wrote, referencing Kelce's high-profile engagement to Taylor Swift, and added that Rice was not a figure comparable to those who "fought for what they believed in." He cited what prosecutors say were circumstances of the crash, including that Rice's rented Lamborghini was traveling 119 mph on the North Central Expressway on Easter weekend and that investigators found marijuana and a firearm in the vehicle.

Rice, 25, pleaded guilty in July to charges including collision involving serious bodily injury and racing on a highway causing bodily injury, according to court filings and media reports. As part of his plea agreement he received five years of deferred adjudication probation and was ordered to serve 30 days in jail as a condition of that probation. Prosecutors said Rice made multiple aggressive maneuvers around traffic, struck other vehicles, did not check on the occupants of those vehicles and fled the scene on foot.

Rice released a statement through his attorney saying he has had "a lot of sleepless nights thinking about the damages my actions caused, and I will continue working within my means to make sure that everyone impacted will be made whole." Lenahan countered that Rice had not yet paid "a single cent" of a reported $1.1 million settlement his client obtained in connection with the crash.

Rice has been away from the Chiefs' lineup while serving his six-game suspension. Kansas City opened the season 0-2 for the first time since 2014, a stretch that team officials and observers have linked in part to offensive struggles while Rice is unavailable; quarterback Patrick Mahomes has averaged about 211 passing yards through the first two games. Rice is eligible to return to the Chiefs' sideline in Week 7, when Kansas City is scheduled to face the Las Vegas Raiders on Oct. 19.

Kelce's display of support drew attention because of his high profile with the team and his recent engagement. The shirts were worn publicly as the players entered the stadium for Sunday's game; there was no immediate comment from Kelce, Thornton or Chiefs officials about Lenahan's statement.

The crash and subsequent legal proceedings have prompted scrutiny from fans, media and legal advocates as Rice navigates league discipline and criminal consequences. The plea agreement and deferred probation limit certain sentencing outcomes but include jail time and other conditions. Civil settlements related to the crash remain a point of contention between victims' representatives and Rice's legal team.

The Chiefs have not released specifics regarding any internal response to teammates publicly supporting Rice. The team continues to manage on-field preparations while Rice serves his suspension and legal obligations are resolved.