Copyright Newsweek
Most people consider Jerry Rice to be the greatest wide receiver in the history of football, and some even feel he's arguably the greatest overall player in NFL history. He spent 20 seasons in the league, 16 of which came with the San Francisco 49ers, and he won three Super Bowl championships and was named to the Pro Bowl 13 times while setting numerous statistical records. One record he set came in 1995 when he collected 1,848 receiving yards. That mark has since been surpassed by three different players, and some feel it is only a matter of time before someone breaks the mythical 2,000-yard barrier, especially given how football has evolved since Rice's playing days. Rice has remained in the public eye since retiring from the NFL in 2005 by playing copious amounts of golf and regularly attending 49ers home games. During an exclusive interview, the Hall of Famer was asked to rank the best wideouts in today's NFL. Instead of naming Ja'Marr Chase, Puka Nacua or Jaxon Smith-Njigba as the best, he said that Justin Jefferson of the Minnesota Vikings is the best. “He can do it all,” Rice said to Athlon Sports. “He can strike deep, he can go across the middle, he can catch the ball in stride, all of those things, and he just looks like there’s no effort out on the football field. Like he’s just out there just running, and everything is so precise.” Read more: 49ers’ Kyle Shanahan Opens Up About Trade Deadline After Tough Loss Jefferson has an enviable combination of speed, good hands, and the ability to make contested catches downfield that makes him arguably the best wideout in the sport. Through seven games this season, he has 41 catches, 602 yards and one touchdown, and while those numbers would be considered good for many other players, they're subpar by Jefferson's standards. Last season, he was at 1,533 yards and 10 touchdowns, which earned him his fourth Pro Bowl nod in five seasons. With the Vikings' quarterback situation in flux due to J.J. McCarthy's sprained ankle and backup Carson Wentz's torn labrum, Jefferson has kept the team in semi-contention for a wild-card playoff spot with a 3-4 record. Jefferson had a shot at getting to 2,000 yards in a single season not too long ago. In 2022, he entered Week 17 with 1,756 yards, but he flamed out in Minnesota's final two regular-season games and ended the season with a mere 1,809 yards. Read more: Chargers’ Justin Herbert Set NFL Record Against Vikings At age 26, he should have more chances to break Calvin Johnson's single-season record of 1,964 yards, not to mention win a Super Bowl championship.
