Jerry Rice has lived the kind of career most young wideouts dream about. The Hall of Famer’s 20-year career already speaks for itself. He stacked 1,549 catches, 22,895 yards, 208 touchdowns, and three Super Bowl rings. So when a player with those numbers gives advice, rookie receivers listen. And on Monday, Rice made sure they heard him.

On ESPN, Rice was asked what throws young receivers off when they jump from college to the pros. He did not hesitate. The 49ers legend told them the game had shifted.

“The biggest adjustment is that it’s the run-pass option now, and that’s going to take some getting used to. It’s going to be like these bubble streams. These short routes. If I played in today’s era, I would really need to bulk up more, be more muscular because (of) catching those passes underneath and being able to break tackles, and also take the punishment of those defensive players.”

The message was clear. This league hits fast, and it hits hard. But for the young receivers watching, Rice is not some unreachable legend. He once stood where many of them stand. He came from a smaller program. Yet he carved out a career few can match.

 His rise should make sense to anyone chasing a shot today. Because if he could climb that mountain, someone else can too.

“So, guys coming into the league. They better realize that. Hey, look, I got to be able to catch these short passes. Get those Jack yards and contribute to the team.”

So yeah, Rice is one of those guys any WR cannot ignore. But this is not the only advice he has for the present WRs in the league.

Jerry Rice wants the young WRs to injury-free

In 1997, Jerry Rice walked into the season opener ready to push his legendary 189-game streak even higher. Instead, one awkward step sent him straight to the turf with a torn ACL and MCL. The moment looked like the end. Yet he fought back in just fourteen weeks. But things went worse.

On a simple touchdown catch, he cracked his kneecap, turning his comeback into another painful setback. Rice once explained what went wrong.

“I feel that I rushed myself back to the football field.”

However, eventually he returned. At 36, he lit up defenses for 1,157 yards and nine touchdowns. And over the next five seasons, he stacked more than 6,400 yards after turning 35, something most receivers never touch in an entire career.

So as the 49ers look for Brandon Aiyuk to bounce back from last season’s injury, Rice used his own story to drive the point home. He kept it simple. His advice? “Don’t rush it.” He wanted Aiyuk and every young wideout to understand that patience is sometimes the best route on the field.

And Rice knows the risk better than anyone. The 49ers icon rushed back once in ‘97, and everything unraveled fast. So he does not want Aiyuk walking into the same trap.

“He’s (Aiyuk) going to want to prove to everyone, ‘Hey look, I’m back.’ It’s going to take some time for him. I’d rely on those other guys to do most of the work and just blend him back in.”

So now let’s see how young WRs, especially Aiyuk, take Rice’s words.