On the Couch Warmers podcast, we decided to fill some time before the NFL season kicks off by debating the greatest NFL players at different positions. I grew up watching Jerry Rice. After seeing him play and looking at his career stats, this guy was the greatest and everyone else was fighting for silver. However, after I started to put his stats in perspective and weighed that against Larry Fitzgerald, I found something interesting.
Larry Fitzgerald, not Jerry Rice, is the greatest receiver of all time. Here’s why.
The QB’s throwing Jerry Rice the ball
So, Jerry Rice’s biggest argument contextually is his stats. The rest of it comes from his amazing ability to get open and in the right position to catch the ball. So, let’s look at those stats.
Jerry Rice is number one all time in receiving yards, touchdowns, and receptions. Until Larry Fitzgerald, not a single wide receiver could approach his numbers. However, the bulk of those numbers came between 1987-1995. That nine year chunk gave him 12,000 of his 22,000 yards and 128 of his 197 touchdown receptions. The 49er’s quarterbacks during those years were Joe Montana and Steve Young. Who was throwing Larry Fitzgerald the ball?
Well, while Jerry caught passes touchdown passes from 4 quarterbacks, Larry Fitzgerald caught passes from 16 quarterbacks, name four. The ones you might know are Carson Palmer, Kurt Warner, Kyler Murray, and Matt Leinart. The last you know mainly from college. Who are the others?
John Skelton threw him seven. Josh McCown threw him twelve. Then you have names like Drew Stanton, Blaine Gabbert, and Brian St. Pierre. So, not exactly guys knocking on Canton’s door. Despite that, he’s still sixth all time. That puts a different perspective on why Jerry is number one and Larry is number six.
Jerry Rice played for 20 seasons
The longevity award goes to Rice. His career covered 1985 until 2004 over three teams. So, now taking that into consideration, let’s look at what each of these receivers were able to do per season.
Jerry Rice averaged 1145 yards per season, 9.8 touchdowns per season, and 80 receptions per season. Larry averaged 1028 yards per season, 7 touchdowns per season, and 84 receptions per season. Those stats aren’t overwhelming anymore. Also consider both Randy Moss and Terrell Owens averaged more TD receptions a season than Jerry Rice.
So, putting that in perspective. The stats that were once seen as overwhelmingly in Jerry’s favor now look as though they are quite human. Given the fact that two hall of fame quarterbacks were throwing him the football, do you think he’s the greatest now?
Jerry Rice’s five Super Bowls
OK, so there’s more than just stats for Jerry Rice. You also have to consider his 3 Super Bowls while Larry didn’t claim a Super Bowl. Please refer to argument number one.
Larry Fitzgerald was good enough to make average teams great and sub par teams average. Now you put that over a seventeen year career with the Cardinals, you can see why he doesn’t have any rings. Truth be told, in the case of wide receivers, they have very little control over whether or not their team wins a Super Bowl. However, let’s take a look at Jerry’s rings for giggles.
He won 3 Super Bowls between 1989 and 1995. Both of them came with Hall of Fame quarterbacks and the teams won 2 Super Bowls without him. Take the factory Andy Reed is building in Kansas City. Travis Kelce, a tight end, led the team in receiving yards and receiving touchdowns. He recorded more yards and touchdown passes this season than both Larry Fitzgerald and Jerry Rice averaged per season. Is he the greatest of all time now that he has his ring and stats.
Closing Statements
We all love and respect Jerry Rice. He was the greatest wide receiver of my generation and the eighties and nineties. So, it might be hard to hear that someone did it better, so look at the argument. Put aside what we’ve been told for the past two decades and consider the greatness of Larry Fitzgerald. Does it still make you cringe when I say, Jerry Rice is NOT the greatest receiver of all time.
Listen to the entire GOAT debate for Wide Receivers from the Couch Warmers podcast:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/2144068/13288869