Jerry Rice is a San Francisco 49ers legend.
The word “legend” is thrown around a lot in sports, but if it were measured by simple criteria of greatness, longevity, and loyalty, Rice fits the description perfectly.
Jerry Rice admits he would cry if he had a statue outside Levi’s Stadium
San Francisco 49ers legend Jerry Rice walks on to the field before the game between San Francisco 49ers and Detroit Lions at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. on Monday, Dec. 30, 2024. | Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Levi’s Stadium already honours statues of Joe Montana and Dwight Clark for “The Catch,” which occurred in the 1982 NFC Championship Game against the Dallas Cowboys. It was, and still is, one of the most recognized plays in NFL history, and arguably the most significant in franchise history.
Those are the only statues outside, other than inside the 49ers Museum, where Rice already has a statue. But when asked whether Rice would love to have a statue outside too, he shared: “I would love that to be honest with you. I think we have had talks about that. It could happen,” said Jerry Rice at Pro Bowl training.
“If it happens, though, I’m probably going to be so emotional. I’m probably just going to break down and cry. I sit back and I watch Dwight Clark and Joe Montana from “The Catch” from the dynasty.”
But Rice added that it’s not his decision on whether he wants his own statue, stating: “I’m just going to leave it up to everyone else if they want to do that. And if they want to show me love like that, I would gladly welcome that, but I’m not going to just push it.”
Ultimately, Rice is arguably the best player to ever represent the red and gold. He is even more so undisputed at his position as a wide receiver and is often regarded as the greatest of all time in that role. 22,895 yards and 208 total touchdowns are figures no one has yet mastered.
His greatness should be recognized. He spent 15 years in San Francisco, and his entire career was legendary. To this day, no player comes close to many of his records, and his career was essentially like combining two standard careers into one.
It’s only fair that Rice has his own statue outside the venue. He belongs on the 49ers’ Mount Rushmore and likely the NFL’s as well. Honoring him this way would reflect well on San Francisco’s front office and owners, giving something back to the man who helped build a dynasty and define the organization today.
Do the right thing, Jed York. It’s simply a no-brainer decision.
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