Solomon Thomas, 5 other 49ers who left in free agency for Raiders
No. 1: Wide Receiver Jerry Rice
No 49ers all-time list is complete without the GOAT wide receiver, Jerry Rice. Many years before he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, though, he was the 49ers first-round (16th overall) pick in the 1985 NFL Draft out of Mississippi Valley State.
He had a modest rookie season falling just short of the 1,000-yard mark. He would record a stat line of 49 receptions, 927 yards receiving and three receiving touchdowns.
More from Niner Noise
- Predicting 49ers NFL Draft picks by looking at final mocks
- DraftKings NFL Draft Promo – Win $150 Guaranteed on Any $5 Bet
- 2023 NFL Draft: EDGE Byron Young could be impact player for 49ers
- 5 low-key NFL Draft options for 49ers who are flying under the radar
- Updated 49ers salary cap space ahead of 2023 NFL Draft
However, in his sophomore season, he set the league on fire. He recorded 1,570 yards receiving to go along with 15 touchdowns, both league highs in the 1986 season. He would also earn Pro Bowl and All-Pro selections that year.
The rest of his career is the stuff of legend. In his 16 seasons with the 49ers, Rice helped the team to three Super Bowl victories. He was named to the Pro Bowl 12 times and received 10 All-Pro selections as a member of the 49ers.
After back-to-back seasons in 1999 and 2000, in which he failed to reach the 1,000-yard receiving mark which seemed almost automatic for him in the past, the 49ers released the 38-year old Rice.
The Raiders saw an opportunity and snatched up Rice prior to the 2001 season. He was able to put on two more 1,000-plus yard seasons for them. In 2002 at the age of 40, Rice recorded 92 receptions for 1,211 yards receiving and seven touchdowns. He also helped the Raiders win the AFC and was a Pro Bowl selection that season.
Next. 49ers: 5 Canadian sleeper prospects to target in 2021 NFL Draft. dark
To this day, he remains the only player over 40 years of age to record over 1,000 yards receiving in a single season. Although he was on the Raiders in the twilight of his career, he showed the league he could still ball after 40.