Speaking to media at the Chargers rookie minicamp, Brenden disclosed that Jerry was upset about his draft fall and that he used that frustration to inspire his son with a meaningful message.
Telling reporters, “My dad was hot,” Brenden said. “You know how the humble person gets the flash? He goes, “Hell no, we’re going to take this to a different level,” in response to me. These guys will sense us.
Before the selection, there was talk that the 49ers would be considering Brenden, inviting the 22-year-old receiver for an official top-30 visit. There was also the obvious connection because Jerry is a legend in the organization.
While Rice continued to fall into the seventh round, San Francisco chose to take a different approach, choosing wide receivers Ricky Pearsall and Jacob Cowing.
During his final two seasons as a college student, Brenden played quarterback for No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams at USC, where he recorded 84 receptions, 1402 yards, and 16 touchdowns in two separate seasons. The rookie wide receiver went on to talk about how lucky he is to have switched from Williams to Justin Herbert, the quarterback for the Chargers.
Telling reporters, “I’m in the best position possible to go ahead and make my mark on and make my own legacy,” Brenden expressed his confidence. “I moved from Caleb Williams to Justin Herbert, and now I’m in a space where I can compete every single day.
“Everything is on me, so it’s my fault if you folks don’t notice me falling. I put in the necessary work to get my best foot in the door and go out there and produce if you guys see me out there.”
Brenden also benefits from having his Hall of Fame father, who had a stellar 21-year NFL career and owns nearly every important receiving record, to guide him.
Jerry’s remarks suggest that the Rice family is taking Brenden’s draft slip personally, which could give him more drive as he tries to make an NFL debut with the Chargers.