rice s no. 80 jersey december 1987, when set new record touchdowns , receptions 49ers
although struggled @ times (dropping numerous passes), rice impressed nfl in rookie season 49ers in 1985, after 10-catch, 241-yard game against los angeles rams in december. rookie season, recorded 49 catches 927 yards, averaging 18.9 yards per catch , named nfc offensive rookie of year united press international (upi). following season, caught 86 passes league-leading 1,570 yards , 15 touchdowns. first of 6 seasons in rice led nfl in receiving yards , touchdown receptions. in 1987, named nfl s mvp newspaper enterprise association—which voted on nfl players—and pro football writers association. ap deemed him offensive player of year. awarded bert bell award maxwell football club nfl player of year. despite playing in 12 games year due nfl players strike, still managed gain 1,078 receiving yards , nfl-record 22 touchdown receptions stood until 2007 when broken randy moss (with moss catching 23 touchdowns in 16 games). in 1987, runner-up rice in touchdown receptions philadelphia eagles receiver mike quick 11. marked first time in post-nfl–afl merger history category leader doubled total of nearest competitor.
in 1988, rice averaged career-high 20.4 yards per catch (64 passes 1,306 yards) , 9 touchdowns. 49ers once again won nfc west 10–6 record. in postseason, instrumental in 49ers 28–3 win on chicago bears in nfc title game, recording 5 catches 123 yards , 2 touchdowns. performance in super bowl xxiii better. in possibly finest performance ever, rice caught 11 passes 215 yards , touchdown, while rushing 5 yards, helping 49ers narrow 20–16 win on cincinnati bengals. receptions , receiving yards both super bowl records. performance, became third wide receiver earn super bowl mvp honors.
in 1989, san francisco made super bowl, aided rice s 82 receptions 1,483 yards , 17 touchdowns during season, , 12 catches 169 yards , 2 touchdowns in 2 playoff games. once again major factor in 49ers championship win, finishing super bowl xxiv 7 catches 148 yards , super bowl record 3 touchdown receptions.
rice had superb season in 1990, leading nfl in receptions (100), receiving yards (1,502), , receiving touchdowns (13). in week 6 match-up atlanta falcons, rice caught career-best 5 touchdowns. san francisco finished year nfl-best 14–2 record, failed 3-peat super bowl champions, losing new york giants 15–13 in nfc title game.
after seasons of 80 catches 1,206 yards , 14 touchdowns in 1991, 84 catches 1,201 yards , 10 touchdowns in 1992, , 98 catches 1,503 yards , 15 touchdowns in 1993, rice made super bowl 49ers in 1994 season, recording career-high 112 receptions 1,499 yards , 13 touchdowns. during 49ers first game of season against los angeles raiders, caught 7 passes season-high 169 yards , 2 touchdowns (and rushed 1 more), moving first place in nfl records career touchdowns, 127. in week 3, 147 receiving yards moved him past art monk nfl s active leader, , past charlie joiner 3rd all-time. pass steve largent 2nd place in week 16. although caught 6 passes in san francisco s 2 playoff games year, proved vital component in 49–26 victory on san diego chargers in super bowl xxix, recording 10 receptions 149 yards , 3 touchdowns—despite playing separated shoulder of game.
in 1995, rice caught career-high 122 passes then-nfl record 1,848 receiving yards , 15 touchdowns (along 1 touchdown each way of running, passing, , recovering fumble). however, 49ers lost in divisional playoffs green bay packers, despite rice s impressive 11-catch, 117-yard performance. following year, recorded 108 receptions (again leading nfl) 1,254 yards , 8 touchdowns. san francisco won in wild card round, once more lost packers in divisional playoffs. in 3 seasons between 1994 , 1996, rice had racked whopping 342 catches 4,601 yards , 36 touchdowns.
during 49ers opening game of 1997 season, tore anterior cruciate , medial collateral ligaments in left knee on reverse. warren sapp of tampa bay buccaneers grabbed rice face-mask , wrenched him ground it, drawing 15-yard personal foul. injury broke streak of 189 consecutive games played. fourteen weeks later, made return, earlier doctors wanted him to. scored touchdown, when came down catch, cracked patella in left kneecap. forced miss pro bowl first time in 11 years. however, made full recovery, coming in 1998 record 82 catches 1,157 yards , 9 touchdowns , being named 12th pro bowl.
the 1999 season first rice failed reach 1,000 yards receiving while playing in 16 games. same thing happened in 2000, final season in san francisco.
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