Jerry Rice was 22 years old when he was drafted into the NFL.
Jerry Rice, a legendary figure in NFL history, began his professional career in 1985. The available statistical records indicate that his age during his inaugural NFL season was 23 years old.
Understanding Player Age in NFL Statistics
In sports statistics, particularly on reference websites, a player's age for a given season typically reflects their age at some point during that season, often by the end of the calendar year. However, the annual NFL Draft usually takes place in April, several months before the regular season officially begins in September.
For a player listed as 23 during their 1985 rookie season, this implies that their 23rd birthday occurred at some point within that calendar year. Since the 1985 NFL Draft was held in April, and his age for the season was recorded as 23, it means his 23rd birthday fell after the draft but before the year concluded. Therefore, at the precise time he was selected in the 1985 NFL Draft, he was 22 years old.
Here is a summary of Jerry Rice's reported age for his initial NFL seasons:
| Season | Age | League |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 23 | NFL |
| 1986 | 24 | NFL |
| 1987 | 25 | NFL |
This statistical information supports the conclusion that while he played his rookie year as a 23-year-old, he entered the league as a 22-year-old on draft day.
