How Many Years Did Jerry Rice Play In The Nfl?

Jerry Rice played in the NFL for 20 seasons, from 1985 to 2004. He is widely considered to be the greatest wide receiver in NFL history.

Jerry Rice’s NFL Career

Jerry Rice is a former American football wide receiver who played 20 seasons in the National Football League, primarily with the San Francisco 49ers. He is widely considered to be the greatest wide receiver in NFL history. Let’s take a look at his career.

Drafted into the NFL

In the 1985 NFL Draft, the San Francisco 49ers selected Jerry Rice with the 16th pick of the first round. (The Dallas Cowboys had originally drafted him 27th overall, but Rice refused to sign with them, saying that he would not play for any team that ran the wishbone offense.) As a rookie, he caught 49 passes for 927 yards and three touchdowns, and was named to both the NFL All-Rookie Team and NFC Rookie of the Year.

Traded to the San Francisco 49ers

In 1985, the San Francisco 49ers drafted Jerry Rice in the first round of the NFL draft. As a rookie, he had a breakout year, setting league records for catches (49) and receiving yards (1,273). The following season, he was named the NFL Offensive Player of the Year after catching 86 passes for 1,570 yards and 15 touchdowns. He would go on to play for the 49ers for 16 seasons, winning three Super Bowls (1985, 1989, 1994) and becoming the NFL’s all-time leader in catches, receiving yards and touchdown receptions. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2010.

Retirement from the NFL

Rice’s production began to decline in his early 30s. After the 1990 season, the 49ers released Rice in a cost-cutting move. He then was signed by the Los Angeles Raiders, for whom he played two seasons (1991–1992).

Jerry Rice’s Post-NFL Career

After Jerry Rice’s incredible 20 year NFL career, he has remained busy with a number of different activities. He has worked as a commentator, an NFL analyst, and a coach. He has also written an autobiography and done some modeling. In addition to all that, he has also launched his own line of products.

Induction into the Hall of Fame

Jerry Rice was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2010, his first year of eligibility. He was enshrined in Canton, Ohio on August 7, 2010, along with Emmitt Smith, Rickey Jackson, John Randle, and Russ Grimm. In his induction speech, he thanked San Francisco 49ers owner Eddie DeBartolo Jr., head coach Bill Walsh, and offensive coordinator Mike Holmgren for helping him develop into the player he became. He also had high praise for quarterbacks Steve Young and Joe Montana.

Career Statistics

Jerry Rice announced his retirement from the NFL on August 26, 2006, after signing a one-day contract with the Oakland Raiders, the team with whom he spent the first 16 years of his career. In his 20 NFL seasons, he played in 303 games (296 starts) and caught 1,549 passes for 22,895 yards and 197 touchdowns. His 1,549 career receptions and 22,895 receiving yards are both NFL records. He is also second all time in touchdown receptions with 197 (behind only Randy Moss’s 156), third in all-purpose yards with 23,546 (behind only Emmitt Smith and Walter Payton), and eighth in total touchdowns with 208 ( rice had 20 rushing touchdowns as well).