The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2001-07.
Rice, Jerry Lee
1962–, American football player, b. Crawford, Miss. Winning national attention while at the otherwise obscure Mississippi Valley State College, Itta Bena, Miss., Rice subsequently played professionally with the San Francisco 49ers (1985–2001), the Oakland Raiders (2001–2004), and the Seattle Seahawks (2004). One of the game’s most durable players, he became the NFL’s oldest ever wide receiver and one of its greatest players. At his retirement he held career records for receptions (1,549), receiving yards (22,895), touchdowns (208), and receiving touchdowns (197) during the regular season and season records for receiving yards (1,848) and receiving touchdowns (22). Rice was rookie of the year for the 1985 season, most valuable player for 1987, Super Bowl most valuable player in 1989, and NFL player of the year for 1990 and 1997, and helped the 49ers win three Super Bowls (1989–90, 1995).
