Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Jerry Rice

From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Jerry Rice made an impact.

Jerry Rice is considered the greatest wide receiver in NFL history, playing 20 seasons and winning three Super Bowl titles with the San Francisco 49ers. He later had stints with the Oakland Raiders and Seattle Seahawks. His career is marked by numerous records and accolades, leading to his recognition as one of the NFL's all-time greatest players. The Pro Football Hall of Fame and NFL Network have highlighted his prolific career and unparalleled achievements.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

1942: Don Hutson's achievement in 1942

In 1942, Don Hutson achieved a feat comparable to Jerry Rice's 1987 season performance. Don Hutson doubled the total of his nearest competitor. In 1987, Jerry Rice achieved the same, marking the first time since Don Hutson's 1942 season.

1981: Freshman Season at Mississippi Valley State

During his freshman season in 1981 at Mississippi Valley State, Jerry Rice recorded 30 receptions for 428 yards and scored two touchdowns.

1982: First Season with Willie Totten

In 1982, Jerry Rice played his first season alongside freshman quarterback Willie Totten, forming a strong connection. Rice caught 66 passes for 1,133 yards and seven touchdowns, contributing to their nickname "The Satellite Express."

1983: Record-Setting Season

Jerry Rice had a record-setting 1983 campaign, including NCAA records for receptions (102) and receiving yards (1,450). He was named a first-team Division I-AA All-American.

1984: Record-Breaking Senior Season

As a senior in 1984, Jerry Rice surpassed his own Division I-AA records for receiving yards (1,845) and receptions (112); his 27 touchdown receptions in the 1984 season set the NCAA record for every division. He was named to the Division I-AA All-American team and finished ninth in Heisman Trophy balloting in 1984.

July 1985: Signed Rookie Contract

In July 1985, Jerry Rice signed a five-year rookie contract with the San Francisco 49ers, earning $377,000 per year.

1985: Drafted by 49ers and Selected by USFL

In 1985, Jerry Rice was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers and also selected by the Birmingham Stallions in the USFL draft. Ultimately, he joined the 49ers. Rice competed for roster spots with Dwight Clark and Freddie Solomon during training camp.

1985: Drafted by the 49ers

In 1985, Jerry Rice was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers as the 16th overall pick in the NFL draft.

1986: Standout Season and Pro Bowl Selection

In 1986, Jerry Rice had a standout season, leading the league in receptions, yards, and touchdowns. He was named to the Pro Bowl and First-team All-Pro teams, marking a significant milestone in his career.

1986: Selected to Pro Bowl

In 1986, Jerry Rice was selected to his first Pro Bowl.

1987: 1987 Season Performance and Awards

In 1987, Jerry Rice had a remarkable season, scoring a receiving touchdown in every game he played. He totaled 22 receiving touchdowns in 12 games and 1,078 receiving yards, breaking Mark Clayton's NFL record. Rice was selected to the Pro Bowl and First-team All-Pro teams. He was awarded the NFL Offensive Player of the Year Award and named the NFL's MVP by the Newspaper Enterprise Association. The 49ers finished the season with a 13-2 record but lost in the Divisional Playoffs to the Minnesota Vikings.

1987: Record for Most Receiving Touchdowns

In 1987, Jerry Rice set the record for the most receiving touchdowns in a single season, achieving 22 touchdowns in a twelve-game season.

1988: Won Super Bowl

In 1988, Jerry Rice won a Super Bowl championship and was named the MVP of the game.

1988: 1988 Season and Super Bowl XXIII MVP

In June of 1988, Jerry Rice signed a five-year, $5.05 million contract with the 49ers. During the 1988 season, despite an ankle injury, he finished with 64 receptions for 1,306 yards and nine receiving touchdowns. He earned Pro Bowl and First-team All-Pro selections. In Super Bowl XXIII against the Cincinnati Bengals, Rice had 11 receptions for 215 yards and a touchdown, leading the 49ers to a 20-16 victory and earning him the Super Bowl MVP award.

1989: 1989 Season and Super Bowl XXIV Victory

During the 1989 season, Jerry Rice had 82 receptions for 1,483 yards and 17 receiving touchdowns, leading the league in both categories. He was selected to the Pro Bowl and First-team All-Pro team. The 49ers finished the regular season with a 14-2 record. In Super Bowl XXIV against the Denver Broncos, Rice had seven receptions for 148 yards and three touchdowns in the 49ers' 55-10 victory.

1989: Won Back-to-Back Championships

In 1989, Jerry Rice won a second consecutive Super Bowl championship with the San Francisco 49ers.

1990: 1990 Season Achievements

In 1990, Jerry Rice led the NFL in receptions (100), receiving yards (1,502), and receiving touchdowns (13), becoming the first player to lead the NFL in all three categories in the Super Bowl era. He was named to the Pro Bowl and First-team All-Pro teams. The 49ers finished with an NFL-best 14-2 record.

1991: 1991 Season Performance

In 1991, with Steve Young as the starting quarterback due to Montana's injury, Jerry Rice recorded 80 receptions for 1,206 yards and led the league in receiving touchdowns with 14. He was selected to the Pro Bowl. Despite a torn PCL, he did not miss any games. The 49ers finished with a 10-6 record but failed to make the postseason.

1992: Super Bowl era leading achievement

In 1990, Jerry Rice became the first player to lead the NFL in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns in the Super Bowl era. In 1992, Sterling Sharpe was the next player to accomplish the feat.

1992: 1992 Season and Contract Renewal

In 1992, amidst a quarterback controversy, Jerry Rice signed a three-year, $7.5 million contract with the 49ers. On September 13, 1992, Rice suffered a concussion. On December 6, in Week 14 against the Miami Dolphins, Rice surpassed Steve Largent's career receiving touchdown record, scoring his 101st touchdown. Rice finished the season with 84 catches for 1,201 yards and ten touchdowns, earning Pro Bowl and First-team All-Pro honors. The 49ers finished with a 14-2 record and made the postseason.

1992: Contract with the 49ers through 1992

In June of 1988, Jerry Rice had a contract that kept him with the 49ers through 1992.

1994: Racking up Catches, Yards and Touchdowns

From 1994 through 1996, Jerry Rice accumulated 342 catches for 4,601 yards and 36 touchdowns.

1994: Super Bowl Appearance and Record-Setting Season

In 1994, Jerry Rice reached the Super Bowl with the 49ers, recording 112 receptions for 1,499 yards and 13 touchdowns. He started the season strong against the Los Angeles Raiders, setting a new NFL record for career touchdowns. He passed Art Monk as the NFL's active leader in receiving yards against the Rams. He had 16 receptions for 165 receiving yards and three receiving touchdowns against the Rams, winning NFC Offensive Player of the Week. He passed Largent for second place in receiving yards. He contributed significantly to the 49ers' Super Bowl XXIX victory over the San Diego Chargers, catching ten passes for 149 yards and three touchdowns despite a separated shoulder.

1994: Third Super Bowl Win

In 1994, Jerry Rice secured his third Super Bowl victory and earned his second Offensive Player of the Year Award.

1995: Record-Setting Season

In 1995, Jerry Rice had a record-setting campaign. He surpassed James Lofton as the all-time leader in receiving yards on October 29, 1995, with 14,040 yards. He had one of the best statistical games in his career against the Vikings, catching 14 passes for a career-high 289 yards and three touchdowns. He won NFC Offensive Player of the Week for his game against the Vikings. In the final game of the regular season against the Atlanta Falcons, he surpassed Art Monk as the all-time leader in receptions, with 942; his performance included 12 receptions for 153 yards, a 41-yard touchdown-throw, and a fumble recovery for a touchdown; his yards total was enough to break the record for most receiving yards in a season, with 1,848 yards, coupled with 122 receptions and 15 touchdowns.

1996: Selected to Pro Bowl

In 1996, Jerry Rice was selected to the Pro Bowl.

1997: Knee Injury and Return

In 1997, during the 49ers' opening game, Jerry Rice tore his anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments in his left knee due to a foul by Warren Sapp. He made a return on December 15, 1997, but cracked his left patella.

1998: Full Recovery and 1,000-Yard Season

In 1998, Jerry Rice made a full recovery from his knee injury, returning for the regular season opener. He recorded 82 catches for 1,157 yards and nine touchdowns, becoming the oldest receiver to record a 1,000-yard season at age 36 and returning to the Pro Bowl team.

1998: Selected to Pro Bowl

In 1998, Jerry Rice was selected to the Pro Bowl.

1999: Season Performance and Team Struggles

In 1999, Jerry Rice had 67 receptions for 830 yards and five touchdowns. It was the first season that Jerry Rice failed to reach 1,000 yards receiving while playing in all 16 games. The 49ers struggled, going 4-12 and missing the postseason.

2000: Final Season in San Francisco and Team Struggles

In 2000, during his final season in San Francisco, Jerry Rice recorded 75 receptions for 805 yards and seven touchdowns, missing 1,000 receiving yards. The 2000 season marked Rice's first without having a game where he recorded at least 100 receiving yards. Terrell Owens set the single-game record for receptions. The 49ers struggled, going 6-10 and missing the postseason.

June 2001: Release from 49ers and Signing with Raiders

In June 2001, Jerry Rice was released by the San Francisco 49ers. He then signed a four-year, $7.8 million contract with the Oakland Raiders.

2002: Oakland Raiders 2002 Season

In 2002 the Oakland Raiders had an 11-5 record.

2002: Pro Bowl Selection, Scrimmage Yard Record, and Super Bowl Loss

In 2002, Jerry Rice caught 92 passes for 1,211 yards and seven touchdowns, earning his 13th Pro Bowl selection and Second-team All-Pro honors. He surpassed Walter Payton as the all-time leader in scrimmage yards, with 21,281 yards. He scored his 200th career touchdown. The Raiders reached the Super Bowl but lost to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 21-48.

2002: Selected to Pro Bowl

In 2002, Jerry Rice was selected to the Pro Bowl.

2003: Season Performance and Team Regression

In the 2003 season, Jerry Rice caught 63 passes for 869 yards. He didn't score a touchdown until the 12th game of the season, scoring only two through the whole year. The Oakland Raiders regressed from their 11-5 record in 2002 to a 4-12 record in 2003, leading to the firing of head coach Bill Callahan.

2004: Trade Request

By the fourth game of the 2004 season, Jerry Rice had five receptions for only 64 yards. Because of that, he asked Raiders owner Al Davis to trade him.

2004: Trade to Seahawks and Final Season

In 2004, Jerry Rice was traded to the Seattle Seahawks six games into the season. He reunited with coach Mike Holmgren and was permitted to wear Steve Largent's retired jersey No. 80. He set the career record for combined net yards in a game against the Dallas Cowboys. Jerry Rice finished the 2004 season with 30 receptions for 429 yards and three touchdowns. At age 41, he managed to play 17 games in a 16-game season. Rice played his last non-preseason professional game for Seattle.

2004: Traded to the Seahawks

Midway through 2004, the Oakland Raiders traded Jerry Rice to the Seattle Seahawks, where he spent his final season in the NFL.

May 25, 2005: Signed with the Denver Broncos

On May 25, 2005, Jerry Rice signed a one-year contract with the Denver Broncos for $790,000, which was the lowest contract offer in his 20 years in the league.

2005: Super Bowl era leading achievement

In 1990, Jerry Rice became the first player to lead the NFL in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns in the Super Bowl era. In 2005, Steve Smith Sr. was another player to accomplish the feat.

2005: Retirement

In 2005, Jerry Rice briefly signed with the Denver Broncos but retired shortly before the start of the regular season, marking the end of his professional football career.

2007: Randy Moss breaks touchdown record

In 2007, Randy Moss broke Jerry Rice's receiving touchdown record, previously set in 1987, by scoring 23 receiving touchdowns.

2008: Larry Fitzgerald breaks postseason records

In 2008, Larry Fitzgerald broke Jerry Rice's postseason records for receiving yards and touchdowns, which Rice had set in his Super Bowl XXIII performance.

2021: Super Bowl era leading achievement

In 1990, Jerry Rice became the first player to lead the NFL in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns in the Super Bowl era. In 2021, Cooper Kupp was another player to accomplish the feat.

2022: Partnered with the American Red Cross to raise awareness about blood donations

In 2022, Jerry Rice partnered with the American Red Cross to raise awareness about blood donations.

2022: Interview with Fox News Digital

In a 2022 interview with Fox News Digital, Jerry Rice expressed his doubts about being drafted at the time. He mentioned he downplayed expectations and considered fixing electronics as a backup plan if his football career didn't pan out.

2024: Super Bowl era leading achievement

In 1990, Jerry Rice became the first player to lead the NFL in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns in the Super Bowl era. In 2024, Ja'Marr Chase was another player to accomplish the feat.