A former girlfriend of Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice filed a civil lawsuit this week in Texas alleging that he assaulted her during a span from December 2023 to July 2025.
Dacoda Jones, with whom Rice has two children and said she was pregnant during many of the alleged assaults, filed the suit on Monday in Dallas County, Texas. She is seeking monetary damages of more than $1 million, according to attorney Ron Estefan.
Per the lawsuit, Rice and Jones allegedly lived together in Victory Park, Texas, and Lee’s Summit, Mo. Jones, in the lawsuit, said Rice strangled her in December 2023, and that between 2023 and 2025, he “grabbed, choked, strangled, pushed, thrown, scratched, hit and headbutted Ms. Jones, as well as hit her with inanimate objects.”
According to the lawsuit, Rice displayed violent behaviors, including “throwing objects, destroying property, punching walls, and breaking furniture, as well as locking her out in the middle of the night.”
As part of the damages in the lawsuit, Jones claimed physical pain and mental anguish, physical impairment, disfigurement, previous and future medical care and loss of earnings.
One of Jones’ attorneys declined comment to ESPN. Rice, who has not been charged criminally in this matter, and his agents had not responded to attempts by The Athletic and ESPN for comment.
“The club is aware (of the lawsuit) and remains in communication with the National Football League,” the Chiefs said in a statement Wednesday.
Jones posted photos on her Instagram account on Jan. 7 that appeared to show signs of physical abuse. She also alleged abuse that spanned years.
“I’m so tired of keeping quiet I’m so tired of protecting his image,” Jones wrote in a since-deleted post. “I’ve been through enough in the span of 8 years and I’ve had ENOUGH! I’ve dealt with abuse for years, me and this man decided to break up a couple months ago and it’s been nothing but hell.
“He literally left us in Kansas and I had to beg him to send money so that I could drive to Texas with my kids and all our stuff,” she wrote. “We have an agreement because of everything he’s put me through and he still doesn’t follow it. He’s now trying to remove me and my kids from our home for no apparent reason. I’ve known this man for YEARS. He tries to put on this persona like he’s dad of the year. He does the bare minimum and I have to beg for that. I’ve protected his image too long and I’m done doing that. It’s time to protect my peace, protect my children and stand up for myself.”
The NFL said on Wednesday, “The matter remains under review.”
Rice, 25, started the 2025 season by serving a six-game suspension for violating the league’s personal conduct policy stemming from his role in a multi-car crash in Dallas that left several people injured during the 2024 season. He pleaded guilty in district court to two third-degree felony charges — collision involving serious bodily injury and racing on a highway causing bodily injury.
The crash ultimately involved six vehicles. Rice and four of his friends didn’t check on those injured and instead fled on foot before police arrived.
Rice was sentenced to five years of deferred probation, and 30 days in jail. He also was required to pay more than $115,000 in restitution to the victims of the crash.
He caught 53 passes for 571 yards and five touchdowns this season as the Chiefs fashioned a 3-5 record in his appearances.
Rice owns 156 receptions for 1,797 yards and 14 scores in 28 regular-season games (20 starts) over three seasons with Kansas City. He also caught six passes for 39 yards when Kansas City defeated San Francisco in overtime to capture Super Bowl LVIII
