He played college football for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights, where he received first-team All-American honors, and was selected by the Ravens in the second round of the 2008 NFL draft.

Although Rice successfully appealed the indefinite suspension, the incident effectively ended his professional career as no teams signed him in free agency.

[5] Rice led his team to a state title as a junior in 2003 when NRHS defeated Webster Schroeder 32–6 at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse.

In Rice's senior year of 2004, New Rochelle fell to Christian Brothers Academy, who had Greg Paulus, 41–35 in the championship game.

[6] Rice attended Rutgers University–New Brunswick, where he played football for coach Greg Schiano's Scarlet Knights from 2005 to 2007.

[14] Leonard considered entering the NFL draft in 2006 but stayed for his senior year and took on a less prominent role in the offense which aided Rice's rise to stardom.

[22][23] On October 6, 2007, against the Cincinnati Bearcats, Rice scored his 35th career rushing touchdown, which set the all-time program record.

[25][26] On January 5, 2008, at the second annual International Bowl in Toronto, Rice ran for a new school record of 280 yards, along with four touchdowns as Rutgers defeated Ball State 52–30.

[35] Rice had his best game of the season in Week 9 against the Cleveland Browns filling in for the injured Willis McGahee where he ran for 154 yards on 21 carries.

[56] This performance was only the second time a running back had gained more than 100 rushing yards against the Steelers defense since the 2009 season, both belonging to Rice.

In Week 10, he threw his first career passing touchdown on a one-yard completion to tight end Ed Dickson in a loss to the Seattle Seahawks.

[59] In a Week 17 win against the Cincinnati Bengals, Rice rushed for 191 yards, including a 70-yard touchdown run in the first two minutes of the game and a 51-yard touchdown with less than six minutes left in the fourth quarter; this performance not only earned Rice AFC Offensive Player of the Week[60] but also helped the Ravens seal their first division title under John Harbaugh.

[64] Rice was for the most part held in check during the 2012 playoffs, having just 47 touches for 158 yards and being kept out of the endzone in two games against the Houston Texans in the Divisional Round victory and the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship loss.

[67] On July 16, 2012, Rice agreed to a five-year, $35 million deal with the Baltimore Ravens after being franchise tagged earlier in the offseason.

Quarterback Joe Flacco passed short middle to Rice, who followed up by avoiding defenders for 29 yards and getting the first down in what Ravens' coach John Harbaugh dubbed as the play that will "go down in history.

[77] In Week 11, Rice had his best game of the season, rushing for 131 yards on 25 carries in the Ravens 23–20 overtime loss to the Chicago Bears.

[80][81] Shortly after, it was announced that Rice would appeal the suspension on the grounds that he was suspended twice for the same offense, which is a violation of league rules.

He had sued for $3.529 million in back pay that he would have earned for the final 15 weeks after serving the NFL's two-game suspension.

[87] On February 15, 2014, Rice and his fiancée (now wife),[89] Janay Palmer, were arrested and charged with assault after a physical altercation at the then Revel Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

[92] The Ravens issued a statement following TMZ's release of the video, calling Rice's domestic violence arrest a "serious matter".

[91] On March 27, 2014, a grand jury indicted Rice on third-degree aggravated assault, with a possible jail sentence of three to five years and a fine of up to $15,000.

[96] In a news conference announcing longer suspension lengths for future domestic violence incidents, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said that he "didn't get it right" in deciding Rice's punishment.

[97] In January 2015, the Baltimore Ravens settled the claim after Rice filed a formal grievance against the NFL for wrongful termination.

Rice demanded $3.5 million based on the claim that the Ravens imposed a second punishment upon him by terminating his employment weeks after the NFL levied a two-game suspension.

[101] Since the end of his career, Rice has also become a motivational speaker, addressing high school students and college athletes by speaking out against domestic violence, using his assault charge as a cautionary tale.