Chiefs' Rashee Rice sets franchise record for TD receptions by a rookie

Kansas City Chiefs WR Rashee Rice has a case to be recognized as the best rookie pass-catcher in franchise history. Last week, Rice tied a franchise record when he scored his sixth receiving touchdown of the season. After some trickeration in the red zone against the New England Patriots in Week 15, Rice now has […]

Charles Goldman — NFL Managing Editor

Dec 17, 2023 1:57 PM EST

Kansas City Chiefs WR Rashee Rice has a case to be recognized as the best rookie pass-catcher in franchise history.

Last week, Rice tied a franchise record when he scored his sixth receiving touchdown of the season. After some trickeration in the red zone against the New England Patriots in Week 15, Rice now has the Chiefs' record for the most touchdown receptions by a rookie in a single season. They busted out an interesting formation and play call, which looked like it was probably something that was run back in the 1920s.

The play had a few moving parts with Patrick Mahomes aligned in the backfield, veteran RB Jerick McKinnon (a former college quarterback) taking a direct snap, and then promptly pitching the ball on a little pop pass to the rookie Rice.

This is a really cool look at the Chiefs' razzle dazzle touchdown. Fun stuff — and I'd be wiling to bet that Patrick Mahomes designed it. pic.twitter.com/kXEmfko8Tn
— Henry McKenna (@henrycmckenna) December 17, 2023

Rice was previously tied with some franchise greats like Fred Arbanas, Stephone Paige, and Tyreek Hill with six reception TDs. He even passed his current teammate, Mecole Hardman. He is now all alone at the top with three games left this season to add to his record. He'll even have a chance to break another pair of franchise-receiving records in the future.

Entering the Week 15 game, Rice had 59 receptions for 663 yards and six touchdowns. He needed 333 yards to eclipse the franchise record for receiving yards by a rookie, which former Chiefs WR Dwayne Bowe previously set in 2007 (995). He has just two receptions for 15 yards and a touchdown during the first half on Sunday, bringing his yardage total to go down to 318 yards.

Bowe also owns the franchise record for receptions by a rookie with 70. Rice needed 12 receptions entering Week 15 to exceed that mark. It looks like he'll have a very good chance to get there before the end of the season.