Brenden Rice Reveals Dad Jerry Was ‘Hot’ With His NFL Draft Slide originally appeared in NBC Sports Bay Area
Brenden Rice, son of Hall of Fame wide receiver Jerry Rice, was ignored by every NFL team before Los Angeles Chargers selected him in the seventh round of the 2024 draft.
Although many consider Brenden to be the day two selection, the 22-year-old had to wait until almost the end of day three to hear his name called.
While speaking to reporters at the Chargers’ rookie minicamp, Brenden revealed how irate Jerry was about his draft, channeling his anger into inspiration with a powerful message for his son.
“My dad was hot,” Brenden told reporters. “You guys catch the flash like… the humble guy, right? Me, he’s like, ‘Hell no, let’s take it to a different level. These guys are gonna feel us.'” (h/t ESPN)
There was speculation that the 49ers might be interested in Brenden before the draft, inviting the 22-year-old receiver for an official visit to the top 30, in addition to the clear connection due to the fact that Jerry is an icon of the franchise.
However, San Francisco chose to go in a different direction, selecting wide receivers Ricky Pearsall and Jacob Cowing as Rice continued to slide into the seventh round.
Brenden spent the final two seasons of his college career at USC, posting 84 receptions, 1,402 yards and 16 touchdowns during two campaigns with No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams as his quarterback. The rookie wide receiver then detailed how lucky he is to pass from Williams to Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert.
“I’m in the best position possible to move forward, make my mark and leave my own legacy,” Brenden told reporters. “I went from Caleb Williams for Justin Herbert, and I’m in a room that will allow me to compete day in and day out.
“It all depends on me, so if you don’t see me coming in the fall, it’s my fault. And if you see me out there, then I do the work necessary to put my best foot in the door and go out there and produce.”
Brenden also has the advantage of following the advice of his Hall of Fame father, who holds nearly every notable NFL receiving record after a dominant 21-year career.
Based on Jerry’s comments, it appears the Rices are taking Brenden’s draft slide personally, which could serve as additional motivation as he tries to break into the NFL with the Chargers.
