Rice Signed 6-Year, $29 Million Contract - At Age of 41

Published on March 4th, 2024 12:51 pm EST
Written By: Dave Manuel


Heading into the 2003 season, the Oakland Raiders were flying pretty high.

In 2001 - Jerry Rice's first season with the team - the Oakland Raiders lost in controversial fashion to the New England Patriots, which was a disappointing end to a promising season.

The next year, the Raiders went to the Super Bowl.

The Raiders had raised eyebrows when they signed legendary wide receiver Jerry Rice to their team in 2001 - after all, he was 39 years of age at the time.

The move definitely paid off, however, as Rice incredibly put together TWO 1,100 yard plus receiving seasons in a row.

Rice was still producing, and the Raiders wanted him to remain on the team.

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Jerry Rice was 41 years of age heading into the 2003 season, with nearly two decades of football under his belt.

41 years of age! Most players are LONG into their retirements by that age, aside from the rare punter or quarterback.

The Raiders inked Rice to a 6-year, $29 million deal for the 2003 season, which included a $1.2 million signing bonus.

Sure - there was no expectation that Rice would actually play out the deal. Still - a near $30 million contract for a 41 year-old wide receiver? That'll almost certainly never happen again.

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Rice would put up a still-respectable 869 yards of receiving yards in 2003, but this would be his last full season with the team.

In 2004, the Raiders would trade Rice to the Seahawks in the middle of the season for a late-round pick.

On December 6th, 2004, Rice would put up one more game for the ages - an eight catch, 145 yard performance against the Dallas Cowboys.

Rice would put his a total of 77 yards in his last four games with the Seahawks.

These would be his last games in the NFL.