Jerry Rice
The G.O.A.T
Of all the players and positions in the NFL, there are countless debates about who’s the best from every era at nearly every position — except perhaps wide receiver. That distinction rarely goes beyond San Francisco pass-catching legend Jerry Rice of Mississippi Valley State.
After setting numerous NCAA receiving records, Rice was selected in the 1st round of the 1985 NFL Draft after the 49ers traded up with the New England Patriots to take him. He finished third on the 49ers in receptions as a rookie — 49 catches for 927 yards, 3 touchdowns, and an impressive 18.9 yards per catch while catching passes from fellow Hall of Famer Joe Montana.
His second year is where expectations became reality. His 86 catches ranked second in the league, while his 1,570 receiving yards and 15 touchdown receptions led the NFL, forming one of the league’s most productive quarterback-receiver combinations with Montana.
In 1987, he set an NFL record with 22 touchdown catches — a mark that stood for two decades. Super Bowl XXIII saw him set a Super Bowl record with 11 catches for 215 yards, earning MVP honors from Montana in one of the defining championship performances of the era.
By 1992, he had surpassed Steve Largent for the most career touchdown receptions. That same season marked the beginning of a seamless transition at quarterback from Montana to fellow Hall of Famer Steve Young — and Rice’s production never declined.
In 1995, he passed James Lofton for the most all-time receiving yards and set a new single-season NFL record with 1,848 receiving yards, a season that came with Young at quarterback and showcased the longevity of his dominance.
Throughout San Francisco’s championship years, Rice was also part of a balanced offensive attack that included Hall of Fame running back Roger Craig, giving the 49ers one of the most complete offensive cores in league history.
In total, Rice set 36 NFL records during his 20-year career.
In 2001, at age 39, Rice was released by the 49ers and signed with the Oakland Raiders. In the three seasons he spent in Oakland, he continued playing at a high level, leading the Raiders in receptions two of those three years.
After six games with Oakland in 2004, he was traded to Seattle, where he started every game for the remainder of the season. He officially retired after the start of the 2005 season following a brief tryout with Denver.
Viewed by many as the greatest professional football player ever, it’s difficult to make a case against him.
Rice played 20 seasons at an elite level, earning 11 All-Pro selections and 13 Pro Bowl selections. He led the league in receptions twice and topped the NFL in receiving yards and touchdown catches six times.
While he benefited from playing alongside Montana, Young, and Craig, his consistency across multiple eras, quarterbacks, and systems ultimately defined his career.
He remains the NFL’s all-time leader in receptions, receiving yards, receiving touchdowns, total touchdowns, and all-purpose yards. He is also the league’s highest-scoring non-kicker and holds the record for most consecutive games with a reception (274).
Jerry Rice was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2010 — his first year of eligibility — a fitting conclusion to the most decorated career ever by a wide receiver.
Image Gallery of Jerry Rice, Wide Receiver 1985-2004
Jerry Rice Football Cards and Covers
Jerry Rice All-Time Career Statistics
| Receiving | Rushing | Total Scrimmage Yards | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Age | Team | # | Games | Starts | Catches | Yards | Y/R | Long | TD | Carries | Yards | Y/A | Long | TD | Touches | Y/Tch | YScm | Total TDS | Fmb |
| 1985 | 23 | SFO | 80 | 16 | 4 | 49 | 927 | 18.9 | 66 | 3 | 6 | 26 | 4.3 | 15 | 1 | 55 | 17.3 | 953 | 4 | 1 |
| 1986*+ | 24 | SFO | 80 | 16 | 15 | 86 | 1570♦ | 18.3 | 66 | 15♦ | 10 | 72 | 7.2 | 18 | 1 | 96 | 17.1 | 1642 | 16 | 2 |
| 1987*+ | 25 | SFO | 80 | 12 | 12 | 65 | 1078 | 16.6 | 57 | 22♦ | 8 | 51 | 6.4 | 17 | 1 | 73 | 15.5 | 1129 | 23♦ | 2 |
| 1988*+ | 26 | SFO♚ | 80 | 16 | 16 | 64 | 1306 | 20.4 | 96♦ | 9 | 13 | 107 | 8.2 | 29 | 1 | 77 | 18.4 | 1413 | 10 | 2 |
| 1989*+ | 27 | SFO♚ | 80 | 16 | 16 | 82 | 1483♦ | 18.1 | 68 | 17♦ | 5 | 33 | 6.6 | 17 | 0 | 87 | 17.4 | 1516 | 17 | 0 |
| 1990*+ | 28 | SFO | 80 | 16 | 16 | 100♦ | 1502♦ | 15.0 | 64 | 13♦ | 2 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 102 | 14.7♦ | 1502 | 13 | 1 |
| 1991* | 29 | SFO | 80 | 16 | 16 | 80 | 1206 | 15.1 | 73 | 14♦ | 1 | 2 | 2.0 | 2 | 0 | 81 | 14.9 | 1208 | 14 | 1 |
| 1992*+ | 30 | SFO | 80 | 16 | 16 | 84 | 1201 | 14.3 | 80 | 10 | 9 | 58 | 6.4 | 26 | 1 | 93 | 13.5 | 1259 | 11 | 2 |
| 1993*+ | 31 | SFO | 80 | 16 | 16 | 98 | 1503♦ | 15.3 | 80 | 15♦ | 3 | 69 | 23.0 | 43 | 1 | 101 | 15.6♦ | 1572 | 16♦ | 3 |
| 1994*+ | 32 | SFO♚ | 80 | 16 | 16 | 112 | 1499♦ | 13.4 | 69 | 13 | 7 | 93 | 13.3 | 28 | 2 | 119 | 13.4 | 1592 | 15 | 1 |
| 1995*+ | 33 | SFO | 80 | 16 | 16 | 122 | 1848♦ | 15.1 | 81 | 15 | 5 | 36 | 7.2 | 20 | 1 | 127 | 14.8♦ | 1884 | 16 | 3 |
| 1996*+ | 34 | SFO | 80 | 16 | 16 | 108♦ | 1254 | 11.6 | 39 | 8 | 11 | 77 | 7.0 | 38 | 1 | 119 | 11.2 | 1331 | 9 | 0 |
| 1997 | 35 | SFO | 80 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 78 | 11.1 | 16 | 1 | 1 | -10 | -10.0 | -10 | 0 | 8 | 8.5 | 68 | 1 | 0 |
| 1998* | 36 | SFO | 80 | 16 | 16 | 82 | 1157 | 14.1 | 75 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 82 | 14.1 | 1157 | 9 | 2 | ||
| 1999 | 37 | SFO | 80 | 16 | 16 | 67 | 830 | 12.4 | 62 | 5 | 2 | 13 | 6.5 | 11 | 0 | 69 | 12.2 | 843 | 5 | 0 |
| 2000 | 38 | SFO | 80 | 16 | 16 | 75 | 805 | 10.7 | 68 | 7 | 1 | -2 | -2.0 | -2 | 0 | 76 | 10.6 | 803 | 7 | 3 |
| 2001 | 39 | OAK | 80 | 16 | 15 | 83 | 1139 | 13.7 | 40 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 83 | 13.7 | 1139 | 9 | 1 | ||
| 2002* | 40 | OAK | 80 | 16 | 16 | 92 | 1211 | 13.2 | 75 | 7 | 3 | 20 | 6.7 | 12 | 0 | 95 | 13.0 | 1231 | 7 | 1 |
| 2003 | 41 | OAK | 80 | 16 | 15 | 63 | 869 | 13.8 | 47 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 63 | 13.8 | 869 | 2 | 2 | ||
| 2004 | 42 | 2 Teams | 17 | 14 | 30 | 429 | 14.3 | 56 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30 | 14.3 | 429 | 3 | 0 | |||
| 2004 | 6 Games Raiders | 6 | 5 | 5 | 67 | 13.4 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 13.4 | 67 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 2004 | 11 games Seahawks | 11 | 9 | 25 | 362 | 14.5 | 56 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25 | 14.5 | 362 | 3 | 0 | ||||
| 16 seasons 49ers | 238 | 224 | 1281 | 19247 | 15.0 | 96 | 176 | 84 | 625 | 7.4 | 43 | 10 | 1365 | 14.6 | 19872 | 186 | 23 | |||
| 3½ seasons Raiders | 54 | 51 | 243 | 3286 | 13.5 | 75 | 18 | 3 | 20 | 6.7 | 12 | 0 | 246 | 13.4 | 3306 | 18 | 4 | |||
| 11 games Seahwaks | 11 | 9 | 25 | 362 | 14.5 | 56 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25 | 14.5 | 362 | 3 | 0 | |||||
| 20 Year NFL Career | 303 | 284 | 1549â™ | 22895â™ | 14.8 | 96 | 197â™ | 87 | 645 | 7.4 | 43 | 10 | 1636 | 14.4 | 23540â™ | 207â™ | 27 | |||
| Season | Age | Team | Games | Catches | Yards | Y/R | Long | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 23 | SFO | 1 | 4 | 45 | 11.3 | 20 | 0 |
| 1986* | 24 | SFO | 1 | 3 | 48 | 16.0 | 24 | 0 |
| 1987* | 25 | SFO | 1 | 3 | 28 | 9.3 | 13 | 0 |
| 1988* | 26 | SFO♚ | 3 | 21♦ | 409♦ | 19.5 | 61 | 6♦ |
| 1989* | 27 | SFO♚ | 3 | 19♦ | 317♦ | 16.7 | 72♦ | 5♦ |
| 1990* | 28 | SFO | 2 | 11 | 122 | 11.1 | 19 | 1 |
| 1992* | 30 | SFO | 2 | 14 | 211 | 15.1 | 36 | 1 |
| 1993* | 31 | SFO | 2 | 9 | 126 | 14.0 | 23 | 0 |
| 1994* | 32 | SFO♚ | 3 | 16 | 233 | 14.6 | 44 | 4♦ |
| 1995* | 33 | SFO | 1 | 11 | 117 | 10.6 | 32 | 0 |
| 1996* | 34 | SFO | 2 | 9 | 86 | 9.6 | 36 | 1 |
| 1998* | 36 | SFO | 2 | 4 | 69 | 17.3 | 38 | 1 |
| 2001 | 39 | OAK | 2 | 13 | 231 | 17.8 | 47 | 1 |
| 2002* | 40 | OAK | 3 | 14 | 203 | 14.5 | 48 | 2 |
| 2004 | 42 | SEA | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 49ers Total Post Season | 23 | 124 | 1811 | 14.6 | 72 | 19 | ||
| Raiders Total Post Season | 5 | 27 | 434 | 16.1 | 48 | 3 | ||
| Seahawks Total Post Season | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| All Time Career Post Season | 29 | 151 | 2245â™ | 14.9 | 22â™ | 72 | ||
- + – All-Pro Selection
- * – Pro Bowl Selection
- ♦ – Led the League
- ♚ – NFL Champion
- â™ – All-Time NFL Record
For some good additional reading:
More Great Wide Receivers from Classic NFL History!
49ers and Raiders from NFL History!
