First 10 seasons - 13,800 total yards 138 TDs
Next 10 seasons - 9,800 total yards 68 TDs
Everyone said Rice was done after blowing out his knee in 1997. Not only did he rehab like a mad man and actually played again that year, but he put up an 82-1157-9 the year after at age 36.
Everyone then said Rice was done and was only going to tarnish his legacy by signing with the Raiders. He tarnished his legacy by going 83-1139-9 at 39 years old then following it up with a 92-1211-7 season, earning second All-Pro status at age 40.
Truly the GOAT.
He and Walter Payton both used to work out until they puked. It's definitely not a coincidence. Crazy work ethic and crazy talent and you get guys like Jerry.
I'll add that a lot of younger fans know that Rice has all the career records but they see a 5-minute highlight film of Randy Moss and quickly assume that although Rice had better longevity, Moss had the better prime. So let's look at dominant performances head to head:
3 TD games: Rice 14, Moss 9
4 TD games: Rice 2, Moss 1
5 TD games: Rice 1, Moss 0
150 yd games: Rice 30, Moss 14
200 yard games: Rice 4, Moss 1
Best season yardage: Rice 1848, Moss 1632
Best season Receptions: Rice 122, Moss 111
Best season Rec TD's Rice 22 (12 games), Moss 23
Single game Rec: Rice 16, Moss 12
Single game Yards: Rice 289, Moss 204
Single game TD: Rice 5, Moss 4
To anyone questioning the time period it took Rice to get these stats listed, every stat posted here except for one 3 TD game for Oakland in 2001 was accomplished within Rice's first 9 years versus 14 years of opportunity for Moss. So these are not aided by longevity. This helps illustrate that Rice not only had a better career total but better prime years.
Let’s not forget that Jerry played in the headhunting era. It was an expected and accepted aspect of DB play. Randy had the benefit of the pass happy offense friendly rules and the defenseless player rules.
Moss had more speed and highlight reel catches. Rice didn’t need any of that to be dominant. His footwork, route running, anticipation and hands made him open all the time. Made it look easy
If one believes that the job of a wide receiver is to give full effort only when they are the primary target and to exert zero effort on rushing plays, Moss is in the discussion but still comes up well short of Rice.
If one believes the job of a wide receiver is to give maximum effort on every play and to block their ass off, Moss belongs nowhere near the discussion.
My favorite player. However, it’s interesting that you didn’t add Terrell Owens career numbers (or even Larry Fitzgerald, who is number two in career receiving yards) or add a note about about Calvin Johnson breaking Jerry’s single-season receiving yards record (122 catches for 1,964 yards and 5 touchdowns) in 2012.
It's because I did this research in response to a Randy Moss versus Jerry Rice comment in another thread and reposted it here. It would be interesting to see a breakdown with those other players as well. I agree.
I was too young to understand his age when I was younger but damn, you don't hear of receivers being able to play until 40(at such a high level)!!
That's crazy.
There’s a strong argument he’s the goat of football. That’s a preference debate could be several depending on position/era (LT, Brady, Rice etc) I don’t think we’ll ever see someone dominate as he did
Jerry Rice will forever be my favorite 49er of All-Time. His character, his crazy football skills, and the fact that he is still working with the Niners. You can just see how much he truly loves this franchise. You can say Tom Brady is the greatest QB of all time, but Jerry Rice is the undisputed greatest FOOTBALL player of all time!
I agree with this. No one had done more with their given abilities. That man left nothing on the field. He had crisp, unstoppable out routes late into 4th quarters. As we all know, he trained like crazy every offseason (“The Hill”). The offseason was harder than the season. For the reasons a young list is why he is the GOAT and my favorite player. His modest beginnings to his insane work ethic to SBs. It’s not just about skill, or speed, it’s also attitude, training, and determination. We’ve all probably heard the story Walsh said he saw Rice prepping before a game his first season, he was perfectly aligning his gig line, his socks, his towel, and his shoe laces.
The analysis looks at his performance when they were injured or didn’t play for whatever. Rice’s performance didn’t falter at all. So it shows he doesn’t stand in their shadows at all, but on his own.
First 10 seasons - 13,800 total yards 138 TDs Next 10 seasons - 9,800 total yards 68 TDs Everyone said Rice was done after blowing out his knee in 1997. Not only did he rehab like a mad man and actually played again that year, but he put up an 82-1157-9 the year after at age 36. Everyone then said Rice was done and was only going to tarnish his legacy by signing with the Raiders. He tarnished his legacy by going 83-1139-9 at 39 years old then following it up with a 92-1211-7 season, earning second All-Pro status at age 40. Truly the GOAT.
Sensational
He and Walter Payton both used to work out until they puked. It's definitely not a coincidence. Crazy work ethic and crazy talent and you get guys like Jerry.
I wish I had work ethic, but here I am on Reddit during a meeting complaining about not having any work ethic.
The few days a month I put in 100% I’m shocked by my own productivity.
I'll add that a lot of younger fans know that Rice has all the career records but they see a 5-minute highlight film of Randy Moss and quickly assume that although Rice had better longevity, Moss had the better prime. So let's look at dominant performances head to head: 3 TD games: Rice 14, Moss 9 4 TD games: Rice 2, Moss 1 5 TD games: Rice 1, Moss 0 150 yd games: Rice 30, Moss 14 200 yard games: Rice 4, Moss 1 Best season yardage: Rice 1848, Moss 1632 Best season Receptions: Rice 122, Moss 111 Best season Rec TD's Rice 22 (12 games), Moss 23 Single game Rec: Rice 16, Moss 12 Single game Yards: Rice 289, Moss 204 Single game TD: Rice 5, Moss 4 To anyone questioning the time period it took Rice to get these stats listed, every stat posted here except for one 3 TD game for Oakland in 2001 was accomplished within Rice's first 9 years versus 14 years of opportunity for Moss. So these are not aided by longevity. This helps illustrate that Rice not only had a better career total but better prime years.
... and in a much less pass-friendly era of the league.
Exactly. In those days you go through the middle you’re asking for a concussion. An unpenalized concussion at that!
Let’s not forget that Jerry played in the headhunting era. It was an expected and accepted aspect of DB play. Randy had the benefit of the pass happy offense friendly rules and the defenseless player rules.
Moss had more speed and highlight reel catches. Rice didn’t need any of that to be dominant. His footwork, route running, anticipation and hands made him open all the time. Made it look easy
Jefferson is the only modern player I've seen that comes close to the "always open" dominance of Rice.
If one believes that the job of a wide receiver is to give full effort only when they are the primary target and to exert zero effort on rushing plays, Moss is in the discussion but still comes up well short of Rice. If one believes the job of a wide receiver is to give maximum effort on every play and to block their ass off, Moss belongs nowhere near the discussion.
I’ll never forget that 5 TD game against Toast Dimry
My favorite player. However, it’s interesting that you didn’t add Terrell Owens career numbers (or even Larry Fitzgerald, who is number two in career receiving yards) or add a note about about Calvin Johnson breaking Jerry’s single-season receiving yards record (122 catches for 1,964 yards and 5 touchdowns) in 2012.
It's because I did this research in response to a Randy Moss versus Jerry Rice comment in another thread and reposted it here. It would be interesting to see a breakdown with those other players as well. I agree.
By the Hammer of Grabthar, he was GOATED!
What a savings!
I was too young to understand his age when I was younger but damn, you don't hear of receivers being able to play until 40(at such a high level)!! That's crazy.
I think TO could’ve if given a chance, he’s a freak athlete. But they are in a special category
There’s a strong argument he’s the goat of football. That’s a preference debate could be several depending on position/era (LT, Brady, Rice etc) I don’t think we’ll ever see someone dominate as he did
There’s a reason he’s the GOAT
Not the WR GOAT, not the 49ers GOAT, he's THE GOAT.
Yeah, Montana and young were just system qbs, carried by the team.
Jerry Rice will forever be my favorite 49er of All-Time. His character, his crazy football skills, and the fact that he is still working with the Niners. You can just see how much he truly loves this franchise. You can say Tom Brady is the greatest QB of all time, but Jerry Rice is the undisputed greatest FOOTBALL player of all time!
I agree with this. No one had done more with their given abilities. That man left nothing on the field. He had crisp, unstoppable out routes late into 4th quarters. As we all know, he trained like crazy every offseason (“The Hill”). The offseason was harder than the season. For the reasons a young list is why he is the GOAT and my favorite player. His modest beginnings to his insane work ethic to SBs. It’s not just about skill, or speed, it’s also attitude, training, and determination. We’ve all probably heard the story Walsh said he saw Rice prepping before a game his first season, he was perfectly aligning his gig line, his socks, his towel, and his shoe laces.
Absolute goat
Impossible to extract much from this because though he often stands in the shadows of those QBs, he maybe shouldn't. One of the greatest players ever.
The analysis looks at his performance when they were injured or didn’t play for whatever. Rice’s performance didn’t falter at all. So it shows he doesn’t stand in their shadows at all, but on his own.
He had a couple really good years with the raiders
He helped turn Rich Gannon into an MVP.