The Los Angeles Chargers recently drafted legacy football player Brenden Rice in the 2024 NFL Draft, and his father Jerry isn't happy with it. Jerry Rice was frustrated that his son fell to the final round of the event.
“My dad was hot,” Brenden Rice said, per ESPN. “You guys get the flash like … the humble dude, right? Me, he's like, ‘Hell no, we're going to take this to a different level. These guys going to feel us.'” Brenden played for USC football as a wide receiver.
Brenden Rice's opportunity in LA
Brenden Rice was taken by the Chargers with the 225th overall pick of the draft, in the seventh and final round. Rice was one of the last few receivers taken in the event. He was expected to go earlier, but things didn't work out the way he had planned. The young wide receiver hopes to turn some heads in his first season in Los Angeles. The Chargers have a new coach in Jim Harbaugh, and the team is rebuilding its receiver corps.
“Everything's upon me, so if you guys don't see me coming fall, that's on me. And if you guys see me out there, then I put in the necessary work to put my best foot in the door and go out there and produce,” Rice added.
The wide receiver had a good season in his final year with USC football in 2023. The wideout finished the season with 45 receptions, for 791 yards and a career-high 12 touchdowns. Rice spent two seasons in southern California, after spending his first two college seasons in Boulder at the University of Colorado. He had a total of 21 receiving touchdowns in college.
The wide receiver knows that there will always be comparisons between him and his father, NFL legend Jerry Rice. Brenden says all he can do is go out and compete for a spot with the Chargers. The young man also wants to be as good as his father.
“I feel as though we're neck and neck. I'm faster, and I heard his rookie season in the NFL wasn't good,” Brenden Rice added. “I gotta go top him.”
Jerry Rice's NFL career
Brenden certainly has some big shoes to fill. Jerry Rice finished his NFL career as one of the best to ever play the game. The legendary player finished his pro career with 3 Super Bowl championships, along with 13 Pro-Bowl selections. Jerry Rice was twice named the NFL Offensive Player of the Year, in 1987 and 1993. He had more than 22,000 receiving yards in the NFL.
It's certainly understandable for a father to be frustrated about his son's draft selection. Brenden will now have the chance to prove all his doubters wrong, and make his father proud. The Chargers finished 5-12 in 2023, and expectations are certainly high now with Jim Harbaugh taking the reins.
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