The Chiefs fell to 0-2 on the season with a 20-17 loss to the Eagles on Sunday. But even before opening kickoff there was criticism directed towards some players for the shirts they wore during pregame warmups.
Travis Kelce and Tyquan Thorton were spotted wearing "Free 4" shirts in support of suspended Kansas City wide receiver Rashee Rice. Rice, a second-round pick in the 2023 draft, was suspended by the NFL after he entered a guilty plea to felony charges stemming from a 2024 multicar crash that resulted in several people getting injured. Rice faced third-degree felonies for a collision involving serious bodily injury and racing on the highway causing bodily injury.
Ahead of Rice missing the second game of the year, Kelce and Thorton donned the shirts emblazoned with graphics of the wideout and a big "FREE 4" message across the top.
Multiple Chiefs players wore shirts in support of suspended teammate Rashee Rice prior to their home opener against the Eagles Sunday.
— KCTV5 News (@KCTV5) September 14, 2025
STORY >>> https://t.co/GESN7qTlY8 pic.twitter.com/vL3NHYhAsF
This was not received well and the two were ripped by the NFL world for the shirts.
That’s an awful, awful look for the Chiefs https://t.co/JkzLVGA0Px
— Matt Verderame (@MattVerderame) September 15, 2025
Drove 119 MPH and almost killed multiple people
— Landon Beamon (@LandonBeamon11) September 15, 2025
Chiefs players: “Yeah, free that guy”
Rashee Rice was going 119mph before crashing his Lamborghini, hitting six vehicles, injuring four people, then fleeing the scene. He's lucky nobody died.
— Nick Godin (@FlyingOrr) September 15, 2025
Bizarre behavior from a team considering Rice hasn't shown remorse. His "remorse" was even questioned by the judge as being… https://t.co/3lebVD5Isc
Free him from what exactly? The dude drove dangerously and seriously injured multiple people and then walked away from the accident. He’s lucky to only get a 6 game suspension https://t.co/QitYLb23Tw
— “Sports fan Mark Kremer” (@mark_kremer) September 15, 2025
Did any player get asked about this? Did they offer an explanation for why they don't believe Rice should be suspended? https://t.co/s0mDcGrZiZ
— Jon Ledyard (@LedyardNFLDraft) September 15, 2025
Drove 119 MPH, hit 6 vehicles, and could’ve easily killed multiple people. The Chiefs are absolutely insufferable. https://t.co/LDXD8ugTbH
— Courtney Finnicum (@courtney883) September 15, 2025
I mean the dude is lucky he didn’t kill anyone. The suspension is deserved. This is a tough look for the Chiefs https://t.co/dh6h5ptxn8
— Noah Phalen (@Noahp245) September 15, 2025
this is wild given what he was actually suspended for https://t.co/q2mDFgYPOv
— Terence (@terencebjohnson) September 15, 2025
How tone deaf can you be? What a horrible look that screams out the rules don't apply to talent/celebrities. Hopefully the Hunt family addresses this. https://t.co/Dv9wgbFRBg
— David Jones (@iPopEditor) September 15, 2025
This is a worse look than starting 0-2. 🤦♂️🤦♂️🤦♂️🤦♂️🤦♂️ https://t.co/keLYT7S5IQ
— Lane Gillespie (@LaneGillPxP) September 15, 2025
Rice pled guilty to the felony charges in July. A judge sentenced the Chiefs wideout to five years of deferred probation and 30 days of jail time. Additionally, Rice was ordered to pay over $100,000 in restitution to victims of the crash for medical expenses.
"There have been a lot of sleepless nights thinking about the damages that my actions caused, and I will continue working within my means to make sure that everyone impacted will be made whole," Rice said in a statement after he entered his guilty pleas. "I urge everyone to mind the speed limit, drive safe and drive smart. Last and certainly not least, I am profoundly sorry for the physical damages to person and property. I fully apologize for the harm I caused to innocent drivers and their families."
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This article was originally published on www.si.com as Travis Kelce, Chiefs Ripped for Wearing Pregame Shirt in Support of Suspended Teammate.