Why Rashee Rice's return has changed the Chiefs' fortunes - ESPN

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice spent one sunny afternoon in 2024 in his hometown of North Richland Hills, Texas, giving away several boxes of Domino's pizza and water bottles to anyone he came across.

The gesture that day was captured on video, with Rice revealing his reasoning at the beginning of the 36-second clip he posted on his social media accounts.

«Everybody gotta eat,» Rice said, staring into the camera.

Since posting the video, Rice and the Chiefs' offense had to wait nearly a year-and-a-half to begin eating as they envisioned on the field. During that time, Rice suffered a serious knee injury at the beginning of last season and served a six-game suspension for his role in a multicar crash that left multiple people injured and delayed the start to his 2025 campaign.

Last Sunday, Rice made his season debut and helped ignite the Chiefs to one of their best offensive performances of the year in a dominating 31-0 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders. Rice's impact on the field was immediate, leading the Chiefs with seven receptions on a team-high 10 targets for 42 yards and two touchdowns.

But Rice's words, though — «everybody gotta eat» — had made an impact on his teammates well before his return to action, becoming the team's motto for the 2025 season. And although the Chiefs had to wait nearly two years to see the full offense they envisioned on the field together — Patrick Mahomes throwing to Rice and fellow wideouts Xavier Worthy and Hollywood Brown — the first signs against the Raiders were encouraging. And in Monday night's game against the Washington Commanders (8:15 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN), the Chiefs are hoping their offense will continue to ascend and eventually become the