American Football
Where is Jerry Rice now?: Life after becoming the greatest WR in NFL history
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Wide receiver Jerry Rice’s time in the NFL produced moments and milestones that still stand the test of time decades after his retirement.
The same mindset that carried him through two decades in the NFL still seems to drive him forward today.
The question now is - since hanging up his cleats, where has life taken the greatest wideout the game has ever seen?
DAZN News' Jason Abbey explains all. But first, let's look back at why Rice is considered an all-time great.
Rice's career journey and accolades
The San Francisco 49ers selected Jerry Rice with the 16th pick in the 1985 NFL Draft, and the youngster from Mississippi Valley State University didn’t waste any time showing he belonged.
As a rookie, he hauled in 49 catches for 927 yards and three scores, impressive numbers in any year, but especially in an era when offenses were not as pass-happy as they are now.
It was also the last time for a long while that Rice would fall short of 1,000 yards. For the next 11 seasons, he hit that mark every year, leading the league in receiving yards six times and piling up a mind-blowing 15,450 yards and 151 touchdowns. With Joe Montana and later Steve Young throwing him the ball, Rice was virtually unstoppable.
Rice won three Super Bowls with the 49ers and earned MVP honors in San Francisco’s victory in Super Bowl XXIII.
A testament to his longevity, Rice played 15 years with the 49ers before finishing his career with four years in Oakland and one with Seattle. He produced his last 1000-yard season for Oakland at 39 years old.
When he finally retired in 2004 at 42, Rice held numerous records, and 36 of those still stand today.
Here are just a few of them:
- 22,985 career receiving yards - the most in NFL history and 5,403 more than the player in second place.
- 197 career receiving touchdowns - the most in NFL history and 41 more than the player in second place.
- 1,597 career receptions - the most in NFL history and 117 more than the player in second place.
- 589 receiving yards in the Super Bowl.
- 274 consecutive games with a reception.
Rice was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in the Class of 2010.
Where is he now? Rice's story post-retirement
Jerry Rice hasn’t exactly taken it easy since leaving the game.
He remains a prominent figure in the NFL, whether providing opinion on the direction of the current 49ers franchise, mentoring his son Brendan, who was selected by the Los Angeles Chargers in the 2024 NFL Draft, or inspiring young wide receivers who still study his game.
He has also made a name for himself in TV and media, while also putting a lot of energy into giving back.
Rice has worked as a broadcaster for NBC and ESPN, appeared on Bay Area sports radio, and co-authored bestselling books, including Super Bowl 50: 50 Years 50 Moments and America’s Game: The NFL at 100.
He has won the Big Break NFL Puerto Rico golf competition and finished as a runner-up on the Dancing with the Stars TV show.
In what little spare time he must have, Rice serves as Honorary Chairman of the San Francisco 49ers Foundation, supporting youth education and empowerment in the Bay Area, and has been a brand ambassador for companies like Nike, Mitchell & Ness, and Panini.
His ties to the Bay Area remain strong even in retirement, where Rice still resides with his wife.
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