Rashee Rice has quickly broken out as a key contributor in his rookie season with the Kansas City Chiefs, coming in as the team’s second-leading pass catcher behind Travis Kelce in both the regular season and playoffs. That strong early production at the wide receiver position has led some to wonder whether Rashee is related to NFL legend Jerry Rice, but the fact that the pair share a last name is purely a coincidence.
A Look at Rashee Rice’s Father, Drashee
Rashee was born to parents Drashee Rice and Marsha Kearney on April 22, 2000, and grew up in North Richland Hills, Texas. He was a standout high school football player there at Richland High before going on to star close to home in college at SMU.
His parents both prefer to keep their private lives out of public attention and have shared few details about their careers or backgrounds with media outlets, a policy Rashee shares by limiting what details he shares about his family with the media. One that has come to light is that Rice’s parents are apparently no longer together.
The pair certainly seem to have helped raise Rashee into a standout football player, however.
He started his collegiate career with three solid seasons at SMU, tallying 400 or more yards each year from 2019-21 with 600+ yards and five or more touchdowns in his sophomore and junior seasons.
It was Rice’s senior season in 2022 that turned the most heads, however, as he broke out with personal bests of 96 catches for 1,355 yards and 10 touchdowns for the Mustangs.
Rice parlayed that success into a spot among the selections in the 2023 NFL Draft, going 55th overall in the second round to the defensive Super Bowl champion Chiefs.
With turnover elsewhere in the receiving corps, Rice seized the opportunity to step into a key role in Kansas City as the team’s top wide receiver throughout the regular season.
He caught 79 passes for 938 yards and a team-high seven receiving touchdowns throughout 16 appearances, including eight starts, and trailed only Kelce in catches and yards.
That production has continued in the postseason, as Rice has caught 20 passes for 223 yards and one touchdown as one of the Chiefs’ few dependable receiving options alongside Kelce.
Now, the rookie is set for a surreal moment during Kansas City’s Super Bowl clash with the San Francisco 49ers as he starts the game for the Chiefs.
“It’s very crazy for me to be in the Super Bowl,” Rice said. “I’m one of the only rookies in the Super Bowl right now. It’s a blessing.”
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It’s a landmark moment in the young wide receiver’s career. Time will tell whether he is able to rise to the occasion and what that could mean for his time in the NFL going forward after an impressive debut season.
As the 2023 NFL season comes to a close, the 2024 NFL Draft is on the horizon. Pro Football Network has you covered with everything from team draft needs to the Top 100 prospects available. Plus, fire up PFN’s Mock Draft Simulator to put yourself in the general manager’s seat and make all the calls!
