Rare Photos of Jerry Rice

Here in his dorm room, Rice might have been studying the nicknames of everyone on Mississippi Valley State. He was nicknamed "World," while other monikers included "Satellite" (quarterback Willie Totten) and "The Gunslinger" (coach Archie Cooley).

Sporting the flattop, Rice smiled with his wife after receiving the NFL MVP award in January 1988.

No word if these two were discussing an eventual Rice appearance on "Shaq Vs."

He ran up and down the football field pretty well, but Rice got to see what it was like to really go fast in a stock car at Infineon Raceway.

It comes with age: Rice needed some time to relax on a recliner during the 2007 All-Star Legends and Celebrity softball game in San Francisco.

"Who am I? What's my name?" is what these two asked each other throughout this night in 2008.

Rice has three championship rings with the 49ers.

Undoubtedly, Rice could have used Scottie Pippen's long arms as a receiver.

Get him to the Greek: Rice posed with Maria Menounos during the Madden NFL 10 Pigskin Pro-Am.

Rice played with quite a crowd at the Super Skins Celebrity Golf Classic Tee Off. Some of the names: singers Nick Lachey and Scott Phillips, former NFL player Jason Sehorn and NASCAR driver Jimmie Johnson.

Rice gave the Giants some good luck when he threw out the first pitch in a home opener against the Braves. Aaron Rowand's infield single in the 13th inning gave San Francisco a walk-off win.

The preseason was one of the few times Rice could watch his team score touchdowns without being on the field. Like this shot in 1999, when Rice, with his son, took in a 49ers touchdown in the third quarter from the sidelines.

Family guy: Rice attends the McDonald's All-American banquet with his wife, daughter and son.

Three titans of their respective industries: Rice poses with singers Jo Dee Messina (left) and Faith Evans.

Even after retiring, Rice couldn't get away from the game. He performed agility drills with the campers at the Nike Football Training Camp at Stanford University.

Undoubtedly, Rice made something extra delish on the Rachel Ray Show.

Rice with Amare Stoudemire at the Cedars-Sinai Sports Spectacular in June 2007.

Rice smiles with (from left to right) current Jets wide receiver Santonio Holmes, Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck and baseball legend Ken Griffey Jr. Rice and Hasselbeck hooked up for two touchdowns during Rice's brief tenure with Seattle.

With partner Anna Trebunskaya, Rice danced a jive in this installment of Dancing with the Stars." Rice and Trebunskaya were the runners-up of the show's second season.

Here talking to speed-demon Jeff Gordon, Rice wasn't exceptionally fast as a wide receiver. Many accounts have his 40-yard dash time coming into the NFL at only 4.6 seconds, but it seemed to work out OK for him.