Latest headlines on Kansas City Chiefs WR Rashee Rice's new court date intend to mislead; here's what you need to know

Kansas City Chiefs WR Rashee Rice remains in limbo when it comes to ramifications from an alleged street racing incident in Dallas, Texas, on March 30, 2024.

The last update fans received indicated that Rice's attorney had been granted a legislative continuance, potentially leading to a timeline in early July for some movement on his criminal case. So far, there has been no movement on the criminal case, but progress is being made on the civil cases brought against Rice.

Things remain status quo for Rice regarding his criminal trial and a potential suspension despite reports of a "new trial date." Remember, the NFL's long-standing policy is to wait for criminal legal proceedings to conclude before issuing any punishment to players. 

What Chiefs WR Rashee Rice's new civil trial date actually means

Yes, according to Dallas County records, a court date has been set for Rice on January 20, 2026. However, this is for a civil case brought by one of the victims of the six-car crash in Dallas, Texas, suing Rice and former SMU teammate Theodore Knox for damages.

This case has nothing to do with the pending criminal case against Rice — the one that matters to the NFL when it comes to issuing suspensions for violation of the league's Personal Conduct Policy. It's also the case that matters when it comes to him facing any non-financial consequences away from the game of football. 

What fans will want to pay attention to are updates on the criminal case. Just like the civil cases, it has been moving incredibly slowly through the Dallas court system. Rice has yet to be indicted in that case. No charges have been formally brought against him by the state, and no jury trial has been set. 

While you might see headlines like: "Chiefs get major Rashee Rice update" or "Chiefs' Rashee Rice trial date set." These are intended to mislead you into thinking this is substantial as it relates to any action from the league regarding a suspension. This latest trial date has no bearing on the timeline for a potential suspension. It might not even interfere with postseason football.

The fact that this court date occurs before a criminal case is brought against Rice is actually detrimental to the victims. Rice can't be compelled to do anything that would incriminate himself in a trial down the line. Expect these civil court dates to continue being pushed back if there is no resolution in the criminal trial.