Hall of Famer Jerry Rice Thinks He Could Still Play in NFL at Age 55

Jerry Rice at the 2008 Cedars Sinai Sports Spectacular
Jerry Rice at the 2008 Cedars Sinai Sports Spectacular. Photo by Alex J. Berliner/BEI/REX/Shutterstock (5121639bw)

Former San Francisco 49ers’ wide receiver Jerry Rice will soon be 56-years-old, but that wouldn’t stand in the way of him getting back to the NFL. Rice, who is often considered the best football player in the history of the game, recently told ESPN that he could still play in the league if he wanted to.

I still feel like today, if I wanted to come back to football and play football, I could do it, at the age of 55.“- said Rice in an exclusive story featured in ESPN‘s 2018 Body Issue. “I’m one of those guys that I still believe that if I wanted to, I could come back, catch over 80 balls and really be productive on the field. … I think I’m still explosive, and I think I still can beat up on some defenses.

While it would certainly be interesting to see such a legendary player matched against today’s greats, that will just stay a matter of fiction. Jerry Rice has cemented his legacy a long time ago, but it is great to see him still having the same old confidence.

Jerry Rice spent the better part of his career playing for the San Francisco 49ers, the team that drafted him 16th overall in the 1985 NBA Draft. He went on to win three Super Bowls with the 49ers, and collect numerous others individual achievements. Rice retired in 2005, after 20 years in the NFL, and still holds numerous league records including most career receiving yards (22,895), most career receptions (1,549), and most career touchdown receptions (197).

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