When Did Jerry Rice Retire?

Last Modified Aug 29, 2023 07:00 GMT
Jerry Rice
Jerry Rice, Source: Jerry Rice’s Official Instagram Handle: @jerryrice

Jerry Rice is a former professional American footballer who played for nine different teams as a quarterback in the NFL. Jerry Rice Ryan was born in Starkville, Mississippi on October 13, 1962, As of now he is 60 years old. Rice first stepped foot into the NFL as a wide receiver for the San Francisco 49ers at the age of 23 and has won three Super Bowl titles with the 49ers.

Before Rice stepped into the NFL he played college football at Mississippi Valley State from 1981-1984. In his freshman year at Mississippi Valley State, Rice played with freshman quarterback Willie Totten and they became friends he caught 30 passes for 428 yards and two touchdowns. In his sophomore year, he caught 66 passes for 1,133 yards and seven touchdowns. In his junior year in 1983, Rice set several Division I-AA records where in the following season he caught 102 receptions for 1,450 yards and scored 28 touchdowns. He continued his excellent performance throughout his entire college career and he finished his successful run with the Delta Devils football team where he in his entire college career he recorded 301 catches for 4,693 yards and 50 touchdowns. His nickname in the college was “World” because he had the ability to catch anything thrown in his way.

During his college years, Rice met Jackie Mitchell in a basketball game he approached her and they began dating. Now they have three children together but after they got separated Jerry Rice married Latisha Pelayo whom he dated since 2008 and have four children together. Jerry Lee Rice has a height of 6 ft 2 in and is known as the greatest wide receiver in NFL history.

Jerry Rice’s Retirement

He announced his retirement on September 5, 2005, after playing for twenty seasons in the NFL. In August 2006 he signed a one-day contract with the 49ers which allowed him to retire as a member of the team where his NFL career began. Rice's professional career started in the year 1985 when he signed with the San Francisco 49ers in the NFL draft of 1985.

In 1985 after joining the San Francisco 49ers he signed a deal of 5 years with them worth $377,000 per year and changed his jersey number from eighty-eight to eighty. In 1985 season in a match against the Minnesota Vikings he made his official NFL debut where in the following game he had four receptions for 67 yards, he scored his first touchdown in a game against Atlanta Falcons. Rice was able to continue his dominant performance throughout the entire season and he finished his debut season where he recorded 49 catches, for 927 yards, and 3 receiving touchdowns, and was named the NFC Rookie of the Year. In the upcoming seasons, he continued his excellent performance, kept improving and also won many more awards for his performance.

Jerry Rice in 1988 signed a new contract deal with the 49ers for five years worth $5.05 million. Rice had an 11-reception, 215-yard performance with a touchdown and was named the Super Bowl MVP because of his performance in Super Bowl XXIII. Rice after delivering career-changing performances in his last five seasons for the 49ers got released in June 2001 and he signed a deal of four years with the Oakland Raiders worth $7.8 million. In the 2001 season Rice was struggling so he requested the Raiders to trade him and the Raiders traded him to the Seahawk Seattle. After playing with them for one season he signed a new contract deal with the Denver Broncos in 2004.

FAQs

A. Jerry Rice's best season was the 1995 season where he recorded 122 catches for 1848 yards, 15.1 yards per catch, a long of 81, and 15 touchdowns.

A. He announced his retirement in 2005 after playing for 20 seasons.

A. His nickname is "World" because of his superb catching ability.

A. The 49ers offered him a contract so he could retire as a member of the team where his career started.

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