Jerry Rice was born on October 13, 1962. He was born in a humble family, he had 7 siblings, he started playing football when he was in school and then college at Mississippi Valley State University (MVSU) and was drafted in NFL in the year 1985. Jerry led his team to victory three times at the Super Bowl and became an MVP (Most Valuable Player).
Personal Basic Information
| Full Name | Jerry Lee Rice. |
| Nick Name | World, GOAT, Flash 80, The Jet |
| Father’s Name | Joe Nathan Rice |
| Mother’s Name | Eddie Rice |
| Date of Birth (Born) | October 13, 1962 |
| Birth Place | Starkville, Mississippi, USA but he grew up in Crawford, Mississippi. |
| Current Age | Age: 63 years, 7 months, and 16 days as of today. Time left for next birthday: 4 months and 14 days. |
| Height | 6 feet 2 inches (1.88 meters) |
| Weight | 200 pounds (91 kg) |
| Net worth | Approx. $50million dollars |
| Marriage Status | Married |
| Wife Name | Latisha Pelayo |
| Kids Name | Jerry Rice Jr., Jaqui Bonet Rice, Jada Symone Rice |
| High school | B. L. Moor High School in Crawford, Mississippi |
| Nationality | American |
| Zodiac Sign | Libra |
| Current Team Name | He retired in 2005 |
Jerry Rice’s Net Worth
In the year 2023, his net worth was approx. $50 million dollars and this earnings is from various sources which are mentioned below:
- NFL Salary: His earnings from his professional football career is approx. $42.4 million dollars.
- Endorsements: He earned approx. $10 – $15 million dollars from Nike, Gatorade, Visa, and many more brand campaigns.
- Business Ventures and Investments: The exact figures from his investments and business ventures are not disclosed but Rice has invested in the fitness industry and technological startups and he has also invested in real estate.
- Authorship: Jerry has also authored and co-authored many books like his own autobiography “Rice” and “Go Along: My Journey Beyond the Game and the Frame”.
- Broadcasting Contracts: After retiring in 2005, Jerry served as an Analyst for NFL and ESPN Networks.
Jerry Rice’s Early Life and Childhood
Jerry Rice was born on October 13, 1962, in Starkville, Mississippi, and brought up in Crawford, Mississippi, he had 7 siblings. His father Joe Nathan Rice, was a brick mason and his mother Eddie Rice was a homeworker.
He was from a humble family, when he was a child, he used to help his father lay the bricks. Initially, Jerry was not interested in football but because of his speed in running, he suggested to join the football team and he joined the B.L. Moor High School football team.
Education and the Beginning of Sports Career
Even though Rice was highly talented but despite it, he was not highly recruited by big colleges because of coming from a small school. So, he eventually took admissions at Mississippi Valley State University (MVSU) where he was called World because he was to catch the ball from anywhere.
In 1985, the San Francisco 49ers selected him in the NFL Draft, initially Jerry struggled a bit in his rookie years but by his second year he improved a lot and in 1987, his team won Super Bowl (XXIII).
Throughout his career, Jerry made many records and was widely known for his talent. The Sporting News put him 2nd on the list of “Football’s 100 Greatest Players. The NFL named him the greatest player of all time. Jerry retired in the year 2005.
Professional Career
1985-2000: He was first selected by the San Francisco 49ersA and he proved himself in just a few matches only. His team, the 49ers won the Super Bowl three times when he was in the team and he won the Super Bowl MVP (Most Valuable Player) title, Jerry made many records in NFL History.
2001-2005: In 2001, Jerry signed with Oakland Raiders and helped him reach the Super Bowl XXXVII. He then played for Seattle Seahawks in the 2004 season and in 2005, he signed with Denver Broncos but retired the very same year.
Achievements / Awards / Medals
In the amazing journey of professional basketball Kareem has a long list of achievements and here are listed few of them:
NFL Achievements
- 1985: He was drafted in the NFL in 1985.
- 1988: He led his 49ers to their Super Bowl XXIII win and earned the Super Bowl Most Valuable Player (MVP).
- 1989, 1994: His team won the Super Bowl XXIV and XXIX.
- 1996: He made many NFL records in which one of them was NFL’s all-time leader in receptions.
- 2003: He became the oldest wide receiver at the age of 41.
- 2005: He retired before the season began.
- 2010: He was inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
These are the major achievements in his NFL career as a professional football player.
Married Life and Family
The NFL legend Jerry has been married two times and has three children from his first marriage. The details are given below:
First Marriage: Jerry and Jacqueline Bernice Mitchell got married in 1987 and they have three children together named Jacqui Bonet Rice, Jerry Rice Jr. (who played college football at UCLA & UNLV), and Jada Symone Rice. In the year 2009 after 22 years, they got divorced.
Second Relationship: Jerry and his new wife Latisha Pelayo started dating after Jerry’s divorce and in 2018, Jerry proposed and the couple got married in 2019 in Napa Valley, California.