Jerry Rice, Class of 2010

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The San Francisco 49ers used their first round draft pick in 1985 on wide receiver Jerry Rice from little known Mississippi Valley State.

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Rice gave a glimpse of what was to come when he averaged 18.9 yards per catch on 49 receptions for 927 yards and 3 TDs as a rookie.

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In 1986, Rice recorded a season that began perhaps the finest stretch by any receiver in NFL history. That year, he caught 86 passes for a league-leading 1,570 yards.

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The following year, Rice set the NFL record for touchdown receptions in a season with 22.

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He led the NFL in receiving yards six times including a NFL record 1,848 yards in 1995. Rice also led the NFL in touchdown receptions six times.

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AP

Rice recorded two 1,000-yard seasons with the Oakland Raiders.

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Rice suited up in regular season for the final time with the Seattle Seahawks.

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AP

He owns virtually every significant receiving mark. Some of the more notable career records include receptions (1,549); receiving yards (22,895 yards); most 1,000-yard receiving seasons (14); total touchdowns (208); and combined net yards (23,546).

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Rice has a hold on multiple NFL playoff and Super Bowl records. He played in eight conference championships and four Super Bowls. He earned three Super Bowl rings with the 49ers and was named the Most Valuable Player of San Francisco’s Super Bowl XXIII win over the Cincinnati Bengals.

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Born in Starkville, Mississippi, Jerry Rice attended Moor High in nearby Crawford. An outstanding receiver, he caught 85 passes during his senior season.

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After high school, Jerry Rice attended Mississippi Valley State University where he set 18 NCAA Division 1-AA records in his four seasons. As a senior he hauled in 103 passes for 1,682 yards (both NCAA Division 1-AA records).

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His first of four seasons with 100 catches came in 1990 when he had an even 100 receptions to lead the NFL in that category. It marked the first of two receiving titles for Rice.

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Rice played in the Hall of Fame game twice in his craeer, once in 1987 and again in 2000. Rice had 1 catch for 4 yards in the 2000 HOF Game.

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Jerry Rice visited the HOF in 2000 when 49ers played the Patriots. Here he is during a team tour of the Hall.

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Rice was elected to the Hall of Fame on February 6, 2010. One of the first to congratulate him is fellow Hall of Famer and his former QB, Steve Young.

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Shortly after the announcement, Rice was measured for his Hall of Fame bust by Blair Buswell.

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He also led the NFL in touchdown catches with 15.

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Precise measurements are necessary to sulpt the bust to the exact proportions of the Hall of Famer.

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Rice's teams went to the playoffs 15 times during his 20 seasons in the NFL. He holds 10 post-season NFL records including most career receptions (151), most career receiving yards (2,245) and most career touchdowns (22).

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Jerry Rice holds the distinction of being the only wide receiver to appear in the top ten of most career touchdowns by a quarterback /wide receiver tandem with two different QBs. He had 55 touchdowns passes with Joe Montana from 1985-1992. He and Steve Young rank second all-time as the duo hooked up for 85 TDs from 1987-1999.

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Jerry Rice's Hall of Fame bust.

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Rice poses with Eddie DeBartolo, Jr. following his speech.

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Jerry Rice delivers his Enshrinement speech from the stage on Fawcett Stadium on Aug. 7, 2010.

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Denver Broncos

Jerry Rice joined the Denver Broncos for the 2005 preseason but called it a career before the regular season.

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Jerry Rice's Hall of Fame mural.

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Jerry Rice's Hall of Fame ring.

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Jerry Rice awaits backstage before giving his Enshrinement speech.

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