When debating who the greatest wide receiver in NFL history is, few would argue against Jerry Rice. Throughout his 20 NFL seasons, he had 1,549 receptions for 22,895 receiving yards and 197 touchdowns. All of which were NFL records. Along with these records, he also racked up many awards and honors. He was a three-time Super Bowl champion and voted MVP in Super Bowl XXIII. He also was a 13-time Pro Bowler, ten-time All-Pro, and two-time Offensive Player of the Year. All of this was enough to get him elected into the Hall of Fame.
When you think of Rice’s career, you imminently think about his time with the 49ers. He was the top-receiving target for the Niners dynasty in the 80s and 90s. Outside of quarterback Joe Montana and Steve Young, the main person that comes to mind is Rice. Sure, there were the few seasons he spent with the Raiders during the early 2000s. However, there is one team everyone forgets he was on, and that is the Seahawks.
Jerry Rice Time In Seattle
Our story begins back in the 2004 season. It was Rice’s fourth season in Oakland, and things weren’t working out as well as they could’ve been. The Raiders as a team were regressing. They were no longer the playoff team they were at the beginning of Rice’s tenure. This led to Bill Callahan being fired and Rice being frustrated by his role on the team.
The Raiders hope that bringing in Norv Turner would help re-energize the team and get them back into contention. Plus if the team was competing, the hope was Rice wouldn’t be as disgruntled. However, four games into his tenure things weren’t going well, causing Rice to go to Al Davis and request a trade. Two weeks later, the Raiders would send him to the Seahawks for a seventh-round pick.
2004 Season
Rice seemed like a perfect fit with Seattle. Their head coach was Mike Holmgren, who was Rice’s offensive coordinator back when he was with San Fransisco. So it seemed like Holmgren would know how to use Rice and get the most out of his diminishing talent. However, there was one small problem with Rice going to Seattle. He wanted to wear the number 80 as he had his entire career. However, the Seahawks had retired that number for Steve Largent. However, after the two talks, Largent gave his blessing for Rice to wear his iconic number.
Rice’s tenure in the pacific northwest started slow, with him only getting one reception in the first four games with the longest recpition only being ten yards. Things would begin to pick up in his fifth game against the Dolphins. He would have three receptions for 86 yards. More importantly, he caught his first touchdown as a Seahawk. Two weeks later he would have his best game as a Seahawk against the Cowboys, racking up eight receptions for 145 yards and a touchdown.
Over the final four games of the season, he would only get eight catches for 77 yards and a touchdown. The Seahawks would go 9-7 and came in first place in the NFC West and would play the Rams in the Wild Card round. This would be Rice last playoff and NFL game as the Seahawks would lose 27-20. Rice didn’t even receive a target. Rice would become a free agent in the offseason and sign with the Broncos. However he would retire before the start of the 2005 season.
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