Consider this the least surprising announcement in quite some time. Players are eligible for enshrinement once they've had their jersey retired or have been selected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Rice was not part of the inaugural class last year, but as expected he is being added in year two of this Hall. When you combine this enshrinement with his enshrinement in the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame, Rice's football playing career can officially be called "complete" so to speak.
The induction will be held the weekend of September 18-20, 2010, and honors Rice for his outstanding achievements and contributions to the 49ers organization. The 49ers are hosting a red carpet event to officially enshrine Rice into the 49ers Hall of Fame. This exclusive event will take place at the Palace Hotel in San Francisco, CA. Rice will also be recognized during halftime of the Monday night home opener against the Super Bowl Champion New Orleans Saints on September 20, 2010.
"Rice's contributions to the game of football, and to our franchise specifically, have made him one of the best to ever play the game," said 49ers President and CEO, Jed York. "His enshrinement into the Edward J. DeBartolo Sr., Hall of Fame was an obvious choice. He changed the game of football and will always be remembered as one of the best to ever put on a 49ers jersey."
"It means the world to me to go into the 49ers Hall of Fame and to go in after Mr. DeBartolo and what he meant to the 49ers and the city of San Francisco," said Jerry Rice. "I also give all the credit to all my teammates and the 49ers organization because they took a chance on me way back in the day when they took me as the 16th overall pick in the NFL draft and coming to the city of San Francisco. I feel honored going in after Eddie DeBartolo and because of all the great players I played with, it really represents them and what we were able to accomplish on the field."