How Long Did Jerry Rice Play In The NFL?
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Jerry Rice, considered by many to be the greatest wide receiver in NFL history, played 20 seasons with the San Francisco 49ers, Oakland Raiders, and Seattle Seahawks.
Jerry Rice’s NFL Career
Jerry Rice played in the NFL for 20 seasons, from 1985 to 2004. He is widely considered to be the greatest wide receiver of all time. During his career, he caught 1,549 passes for 22,895 yards and 197 touchdowns. He was a 12-time Pro Bowl selection and was named first-team All-Pro 10 times.
Drafted by the San Francisco 49ers
In the 1985 NFL Draft, the San Francisco 49ers selected Jerry Rice with the 16th pick of the first round. As a rookie, he played primarily on special teams and caught just 23 passes for 362 yards (a 15.7 average). In 1986, Rice had a breakout season, catching 86 passes for a league-leading 1,570 yards (a 18.2 average) and earning his first Pro Bowl selection.
Traded to the Oakland Raiders
In 2000, after 16 seasons with the 49ers, Jerry Rice was released due to his high salary. The Raiders signed him soon afterwards. He played there for two more seasons before announcing his retirement from the NFL on October 16, 2004.
Retired from the NFL
Rice played in the NFL for 20 seasons, primarily with the San Francisco 49ers. He also played for the Oakland Raiders and Seattle Seahawks. He retired from the NFL in 2005.
Jerry Rice’s Hall of Fame Career
Jerry Rice is a former American football wide receiver who spent the majority of his career with the San Francisco 49ers. He is widely considered to be the greatest wide receiver in NFL history. He played for 20 seasons and retired as the league’s all-time leader in receptions, receiving yards, and touchdown receptions. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2010.
Elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame
In his 20 NFL seasons, Jerry Rice established himself as the greatest wide receiver in NFL history. He was selected to 13 Pro Bowls, named first-team All-Pro 10 times and won three Super Bowls with the San Francisco 49ers. When he retired following the 2004 season, he owned or shared more than 100 NFL records.
Rice was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2010 in his first year of eligibility.
Named the Greatest NFL Player of All Time
By acclamation, Jerry Rice is the greatest wide receiver in NFL history. He is also, quite simply, the greatest player the game has ever seen. In a 20-year career with the San Francisco 49ers and Oakland Raiders, Rice redefined the way the game was played. He is the all-time leader in virtually every significant receiving category, including catches (1,848), receiving yards (22,895) and touchdown receptions (197). He was named to 13 Pro Bowls and was a first-team All-Pro 10 times. He was named the NFL’s Offensive Player of the Year twice and its MVP three times. In addition, he was named to the All-Decade Teams of both the 1980s and 1990s.
