A Texas court ruled former SMU cornerback Theodore “Teddy” Knox was “grossly negligent” in a 2024 street racing crash in Dallas that involved Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice.
Judge Kim Bailey Phipps issued a default judgment of $2.88 million on Wednesday against Knox for the accident in which both men lost control of their vehicles in an accident that left several people injured.
The judgment awarded to Kathryn Kuykendall, one of the victims, includes punitive damages and costs for medical expenses and lost wages.
Rice, who is scheduled to go to trial in the matter on June 9, started the 2025 season by serving a six-game suspension for violating the league’s personal conduct policy stemming from his role in the crash on March 30, 2024.
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. Rice and four of his friends failed to check on the injured parties and 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.
Rice, 25, was driving a rented Lamborghini SUV at speeds up to 119 mph at the time of the accident. Knox was driving a rented Corvette.
A second-round pick by Kansas City out of SMU in 2023, Rice has recorded 156 catches for 1,797 yards and 14 scores in 28 games (20 starts) over his first three NFL seasons.
In January, the court issued default judgments against Knox totaling more than $3.6 million for two other victims in the case. Knox played for two seasons with the Mustangs (2022-23) after one season at Mississippi State.
