Disclosed is a rear discharge lawn mower assembly having a rearwardly-directing mower deck, a plurality of cutting blades, and rear housing and clippings pathway adapted to direct clippings through the rear of the mower assembly while shrouding the rear drive elements and tires of the mower from flying debris. The rear housing comprises an enclosed volume that shrouds the axle and rear drive elements of the mower, while further providing a pair of downwardly suspended tire shields and a rear access panel for allowing access into the housing for mower maintenance purposes. The mower deck routes clippings through a rear discharge, wherein clippings and debris are then directed into a space defined by the rear housing lower surface shield and the tire shields. In this way, grass, wood chips, glass and other hardened debris is exited from the mower without damaging the tires or drive elements of the mower.
