Notable Steelers player headlines NFL legends that played for a different franchise

Jerry Rice never wanted to end his NFL career and tried to keep going

Many know that Jerry Rice did not finish his playing days in a San Francisco jersey. He played for two different clubs for the last four years of his career before he officially announced his retirement. Father Time is undefeated, but Rice surely gave him a run for his money when it came to the high level of play that he produced at his older age.

The 49ers decided to cut Rice after they sought the ability to get cap space and focus on rebuilding their club. Terrell Owens had also emerged, and they wanted him to be the uncontested top receiver for the team. Rice would not have to move far as he would sign with the Oakland Raiders, which kept him in the Bay Area for another three and a half years.

He was still a monster for the Raiders, which saw him tally over 1,000 receiving yards in two out of the three-and-a-half seasons there. He was posting big numbers from the age of 38 to 40 years old there. That is unheard of in today's NFL. Rice was able to produce great numbers at an age that is rarely seen a receiver reach in his playing days.

Eventually, that age did catch up to him and Rice would be traded four weeks into the 2004 season to the Seattle Seahawks for a late round pick. Sadly, for Rice, age was just too much of a hurdle that was impossible to overcome. Rice will always be famous in San Francisco, but he did have a good career in Oakland and a short stint in an uncomfortable Seahawks stay.