It’s heartbreaking: A very talented Denver Broncos player has announced his sudden retirement, sending a powerful statement and bidding the team and supporters a heartfelt farewell.
Jerry Rice, the most productive wide receiver in NFL history, ended his 20-year career today by deciding not to play much more with the Broncos.
Over the weekend, 42-year-old Rice made his decision at home in San Francisco. After returning to Broncos headquarters, he met with coach Mike Shanahan. He spent 20 seasons as an NFL player.
It’s a happy day, he declared. “I believe the tears you see are essentially a reflection of how much I’ve enjoyed this ride.
Rice confirmed what many had already assumed—that he would prefer to retire than be a bit player with the Broncos—and Shanahan confirmed what Rice already knew—that he would be a fourth or fifth receiver, at best, this season.
Over the summer, Rice signed a contract with Denver, rejoining Shanahan, his former offensive coordinator in San Francisco during the 1990s. For Rice, the goal was to compete for a team that could help him win and for a coach who knew him well.
Shanahan stated unequivocally that he would not guarantee Rice anything, not even a spot on the team. But behind closed doors, Shanahan admitted he knew he would never have to bench the greatest receiver in league history. He reasoned that if Rice felt it was time to retire, he would take a step back.
Rice remarked, “I’ve pushed this body for 20 years.” “I always worked out; I was never a couch potato. Every year, I had to prove myself.
Many of the guys here were only three years old when I began playing. Those guys seem to be in awe of my ability to run as well as I do.
When Rice took over as Denver’s third receiver early in training camp, things appeared to be going well. In hindsight, Darius Watts’s promotion was more of a reflection on his poor ball-catching performance during the preseason.
Rice had only four receptions for 24 yards by the end of the preseason, and he had fallen back on the depth chart. He was in the Bay Area making decisions about his future when the Broncos announced their final round of cuts on Saturday, as was to be expected.
“For me, it never mattered what I did on the football field. It had to do with how I approached the game,” he remarked. “I play the game with a great deal of pride, poise, and determination.
I believe that what you witnessed on the field was a person who was genuinely passionate about the game, and I was just a little child. I relished the effort, sacrifice, and hard work required of me in my quest to become one of the greatest receivers in game history.
Jim Steiner, Rice’s agent, has stated that if Rice retired this time, he wouldn’t attempt to rejoin a different team. Should that be the case, Rice will have set 38 NFL records during his career, including records for career receptions (1,549), receiving yards (22,895), and receiving touchdowns (197).
