Jerry Rice

Background

Jerry Rice was born in Starkville, Mississippi. He was one of the eight children born to his parents. His dad was a hardworking bricklayer who employed Rice and his brothers as his assistants during the hot, scorching summers. Working as an assistant bricklayer helped him gain strong hands as a child. In addition to the firm grip, he was also a gifted runner and would always zip and zap down the dirt road that led up to his house. One day Rice skipped class and what seemed like tough love to the young truant then was the beginning of his football story. His excellent running skills caught the principal’s attention; thus, he gave Rice two options ― join the school’s football team or be punished. When he started playing on the school team, he became a star player and a threat to other schools; shortly after, his speed and distinct playing tactics drew the attention of college scouts, who offered him enrolment at the Mississippi Valley State University.

He played football for the university from 1981 to 1984. Although people don’t consider M.V.S.U. a major college, Rice decided to make the most out of his opportunity. The fine details of his college career are unknown; reports say he caught 66 passes for 1,133 yards and seven touchdowns in his sophomore year, which was quite an accomplishment for a player from a small school. In time, he became a standout receiver and acquired the nickname ‘World’ because of his natural proficiency in catching anything near him. Rice got inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame on August 12, 2006.

During one of his earlier games, Rice caught the attention of the coach of the 49ers, Walsh, who came to the 1985 pro football draft determined to recruit him. His rookie season had a rocky start as he struggled sometimes and dropped a record fifteen passes. However, Rice made a great comeback in his second season by hitting a record of 22 reception touchdowns. A few decades later, Rice achieved several other accomplishments in his career. Rice retired after completing his career with Oakland and Seattle as one of the most prolific wide receivers in N.F.L. history with staggering career totals.