Ray Rice will go down as one of the most controversial NFL players of all time.
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The ex-Baltimore Ravens star was as consistent as any other running back in professional football, but a 2014 domestic violence arrest ended his career instantly. Despite being on track for a Hall of Fame career, he was out of the league before he turned 28.
What has Rice been up to after his time in the NFL ended?
Ray Rice at Rutgers
Ray Rice had an impressive high school career and opted to remain close to home and play for Rutgers. The New Jersey school may not be competing for a College Football Playoff berth anytime soon, but they were a force in the Big East when Rice attended.
Over three years with the Scarlet Knights, he rushed for 4,926 yards and scored 50 touchdowns.
In 2018, he returned to Rutgers and spoke to a bunch of prospects at a football camp.
"The one thing you want to make sure they're doing is taking care of everything else," Rice told ScarletNation.com. "Football's a great tool to learn life, but if you make it about just making it to the next level, then we're missing something there. [Rutgers], the coaches that they have, they're doing a great job understanding that these kids are not just football players. They're going to be young men and that's important. I appreciate being able to see everybody as a whole."
Ray Rice Baltimore Ravens Career
One of my all-time favorite NFL plays is when Ray Rice converted 4th and 29 off a check down #Ravens #Chargers pic.twitter.com/PONBZuZM6V
— (NFL free agent fan) cal kestis (@QBWinsRnotAstat) May 15, 2018
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After an impressive college career, Rice declared for the 2008 NFL Draft and was taken in the second round by the Baltimore Ravens. Head coach John Harbaugh leaned on him often and Rice became a premier running back in the league.
Rice represented the AFC in the Pro Bowl three times, and the Ravens won a Super Bowl in 2012 with Rice on the roster.
In 2014, the wheels fell off of Rice's career. Video footage obtained and distributed by TMZ showed Rice assaulting then-fiancée Janay Palmer (now Janay Rice) in an Atlantic City casino.
Rice was charged with aggravated assault, and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell suspended him for two games. The Commissioner received ample amounts of criticism for this sentence, as many deemed it much too short.
The Ravens released Rice from his contract in September of that year, and he has yet to crack an NFL team's roster since.
Ray Rice Now
Former New Rochelle Head Football Coach Lou DiRienzo now has two players - Ray Rice & Jordan Lucas - play in the Super Bowl. No other coach in Section 1 football history can make that claim!
Congrats JO!🎉💜 @Chiefs @NewRochelleNY @NewRochelleED @NFL pic.twitter.com/Jw5UgmgqmF— NewRo FPA (@NewRoFPA) January 20, 2020
The 34-year-old former Baltimore Ravens running back is finished in pro football and won't ever receive a second chance. It is hard to blame any team for not wanting to be associated with him, but it is interesting to ponder why players like Kareem Hunt hasn't received the same treatment.
He was suspended while on the Kansas City Chiefs for a similar infraction, but after serving his suspension, he signed with the Cleveland Browns.
Kareem Hunt is 23. He will get another chance in the NFL. So would have Ray Rice if he was 23. Don’t kid yourself
— Vic Tafur (@VicTafur) December 2, 2018
These days, Ray Rice has worked as a running backs coach for New Rochelle High School's football team. He used to dominate games against the Bengals, Browns and Steelers twice a year, but that feels like a lifetime ago.
No amount of apologies will be enough to give him a spot in the NFL.
.@NewRoFootball's Lou DiRienzo handed Ray Rice cash, said, "Ray, I need a new pair of shoes, b/c we're going to the dance," and walked off. pic.twitter.com/cJYnP92wJ3
— Mike Zacchio (@mike_zacchio) October 28, 2017
Rice has made appearances on ESPN's "Outside the Lines" and "CBS This Morning" to help rehabilitate his image.
Although he said he felt physically and mentally healthy for the first time while speaking with Gayle King, it would be shocking to see him take the field ever again.
This post was originally published on December 21, 2020.
