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“Chanting for a Felon Is Crazy”: Travis Kelce Catches Flak for His Pregame Message for Rashee Rice

Samnur Reza
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Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) and wide receiver Rashee Rice (4) walk down the hill to the fields prior to training camp at Missouri Western State University.

Jul 22, 2025; St. Joseph, MO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) and wide receiver Rashee Rice (4) walk down the hill to the fields prior to training camp at Missouri Western State University. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images

The Kansas City Chiefs looked especially short-handed at wide receiver heading into Sunday’s Super Bowl rematch against the Philadelphia Eagles. One of the key guys who could’ve filled that gap was Xavier Worthy, but he went down with a dislocated shoulder after colliding with Travis Kelce just three snaps into the loss against the Chargers, Week 1. Then there’s Rashee Rice, missing time too, though for a much more serious, off-field reason.

Rice, 25, is currently serving a six-game suspension due to his involvement in a high-speed car crash that occurred last year. The NFL had apparently pushed for a double-digit suspension before it was reduced to the current six games (Weeks 1-6).

The wide receiver is also set to serve five years of probation and spend 30 days in jail. Still, despite all this, Rice’s teammates, especially Travis Kelce, have shown their support by wearing “Free 4” t-shirts.

That’s right, before Sunday’s highly anticipated matchup, Kelce and wideout Tyquan Thornton were spotted wearing tees with “Free 4” printed on them, complete with graphics of the suspended player. However, plenty of fans weren’t too thrilled with the gesture.

In the comments, many X users pointed out that Kelce and Thornton were backing a player who “could have killed people” in last year’s accident. Others went as far as labeling Rice a “felon,” with some insisting that the wideout should already be behind bars.

“Bruh he should be in prison rn,” one said. “4 could have killed people Not a good look for Kelce,” another penned.

“Chanting for a felon is crazy,” a third one said.

Back in July, when the Dallas County judge handed down Rice’s 30-day jail sentence and five years of probation, fans had a similar reaction.

Many argued that it always pays to be famous, pointing out that an ordinary person would likely be locked up for years for committing aggravated vehicular assault and felony hit-and-run against multiple people, including children, in a DUI street racing incident. And yes, several people were injured.

So, we have to side with the fans on this one. A six-game suspension and a short jail stint, served at any point over the next five years, feels like nothing more than a slap on the wrist. Wouldn’t you agree?

About the author

Samnur Reza

Samnur Reza

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Samnur Reza is an NFL editor for The SportsRush. He holds a degree in English Honors and joined The SportsRush editorial team in 2023. Having previously worked as a freelancer and several media outlets, Samnur has been religiously following the National Football League for the past six and a half years. Samnur first started following football after Tom Brady's cameo in Ted 2. It wasn’t long before he found himself grabbing a bucket of popcorn to enjoy football games. He still vividly remembers his first-ever fixture: a 2011 matchup between the Patriots and Raiders, where Brady led his team to a 31-19 victory. Even so, Samnur believes Brady’s best performance came against the Falcons in Super Bowl LI, a game he still revisits from time to time. Samnur diligently follows most NFL athletes, their family members, and even the NCAA. Thus, he considers himself a diverse writer, having covered almost every corner of the football world. He does, however, have a special interest in athlete-centric stories. Whenever they engage in off-field ventures or charitable activities, Samnur enjoys reading and writing about them. Samnur had already authored over 1000 NFL-based articles before becoming an editor. His editorial journey began just a little over a year ago. Beyond football, Samnur is a true cinephile with an extensive repertoire of films. He’s also fond of cats and has a furry friend named ‘Eva.’ During his free time, Samnur enjoys playing video games, currently immersed in Demon's Souls. Having recently learned how to ride a bike, he now wishes to travel almost everywhere on it.

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