With every game that Jerry Rice pays he extends another one of his countless records, truly leaving a mark on professional football. In 1997 he became the first receiver to catch 1000+ passes. At 6-2, 180 pounds Rice is the holder of every single important receiving record and three Super Bowl titles. At the end of his career he will have put such records as: most receptions, most yards, most total touchdowns, most receiving touchdowns, most games with 100+ receiving yards, most seasons with 100+ receptions, most seasons with 1000+ yards, most receiving yards in a single season, most seasons with 50+ receptions and consecutive games with a reception at such a high mark no receiver may ever reach them again. He boasts such trophies as NFL MVP and Super Bowl MVP with more pride than any player, and is by far the most deserving. Rice has also teamed with former 49ers quarterback Steve Young for more touchdowns as a combination than any other two-person combination in history.

Rice's records are not only well deserved, but he worked all his life to attain them. Jerry always had an interest in sports. When he was in high school, he played football, basketball and ran track. However, in his first year of college elected not to play football, his mother didn't like the game. It wasn't until his principal caught him playing hooky that he started to play. After the principal startled Jerry, he took off, leaving the principal with just the sight of a blurry red blazer. The Principal was so amazed at Jerry's speed that he called him to his office the next morning game him 5-6 thrashings and then a mandate to play football.

The coaches loved him. In high school, he played WR, DB, HB, and QB. In one game he through for 3 and caught another 3 Td's in just the second half. Players in college gave Jerry the nick name "World" because he could catch anything in the world. It was at Mississippi Valley State, Rice's College where he was given his first of many MVP awards. In 1985 he was drafted #16 overall. After the 1st mini-camp, Dwight Clark (the 49ers primary receiver) came up to Bill Walsh, pointed at Jerry and said "What is that?" What it was, was history in the making, 6 years would follow of "Montana to Rice...TOUCHDOWN!!!"

Rice has a very strong presence, you feel you have to perform for him. Carmen Policy was quoted saying: "With free agents his presence is enough. He doesn't have to talk to them, if they just see him walk through the hallway it will register: This is the place where Jerry Rice lives." He was passed a "torch" form Clark and Solomon, one he will pass to other players such as Terrell Owens and Jeff Garcia. This "torch" is what keep the 49ers the 49ers, it is the winning spirit and dignity.

Is Jerry Rice the greatest to play, well Bill Walsh says: "I think if you name the 5 best players of all time, he'd be one of them, and then it would be up to people to pick their preference. But you couldn't find a better player than Jerry Rice." Many reporters explain that his eye hand coordination came from helping his father, a bricklayer, at work. His brothers used to toss bricks to him, that he would catch and then place them on the structure being built. If this had nothing to do with developing the greatest receiver if not player of all time, than at the very least it taught him what an honest days work was.

Jerry played in every game he was eligible for with the exception of one season. In 1997 Rice suffered two potentially career ending knee injuries. His ability to rehabilitate from them, and recover at a speed that was simply unheard of, is perhaps just one of a million accomplishments Rice takes pride in.