Usually when an NFL player retires, he either gets into coaching or works for the sports media as he tries to stay as close to the game as possible.
But not the greatest wide receiver of all-time.
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jerry Rice has become a full fledged, real life wedding crasher.
In an amazing interview with The Ringer, the 49ers legend reveals that his favorite retirement hobby is crashing weddings. It’s become such a fun adventure that Rice says he crashes at least one wedding per weekend in the Bay Area:
“I just want to go up to the bride and the groom and congratulate them,” Rice said. “Tell them, ‘Today is your day.’”
“For some reason, it always turns out that they are so excited,” Rice said. “They want to take pictures, and I’m just happy to take pictures with them. It always turns out to be bigger than that.”
“It’s my nature,” Rice told The Ringer. “I love people, and I want everything to be natural. I want to give people a memory.”
Jerry’s adventurous wedding crashing began in 2006. Rice, who’s a big golfer, often runs into wedding parties taking photos at courses where receptions are held. Once he finishes his round, “he’ll pop by the photography session for a few pics and well wishes.
One couple in The Ringer’s story said they were approached by the wedding’s personal security guards multiple times, asking if strangers were allowed in.
Th couple said no, but the “stranger” was oddly insistent:
“Then the guy at the door comes a third time and says, ‘You’ve got to come out again,’ and I’m saying, ‘Really?'” the groom said. “So I walked out with him and Jerry Rice is standing there saying, ‘Hey, I’m Jerry.'”
When Rice crashes up a non-golf wedding party, he’ll often stay for a little while to greet guests, hit the dance floor and take plenty of selfies.
Yes, there are tweets:
My uncle & my aunts close friend & fellow MVSU grad at my cousins wedding y’all might know him as the 🐐 Jerry Rice pic.twitter.com/lL2b0cq7GX
— Asshleighh ✨ (@ashleigh_tgc) May 16, 2016
Jerry Rice crashed my friend’s wedding last night, so at least there’s that.
— Ruthie Reisner (@ruthiereisner) November 13, 2016
My parents met Jerry Rice at a wedding and I’m lightweight salty
— Alex (@Apadilla81) September 7, 2015
It’s only right that Jerry Rice would coincidentally show up at a wedding with a 49er Groom Cake!… https://t.co/nU42zeJuV9
— DJ Planet Rock (@djplanetrock) September 7, 2015
Either my cousin’s best man is a dead ringer for Jerry Rice or I really, really should’ve gone to that wedding.
— Meoskop (@meoskop) July 18, 2014
Lol im at this wedding rehearsal and i turn around and its jerry rice 😂😂
— James Leonard (@LilJay_InThaCut) January 31, 2015
Yes, there are photographs too:
Here’s one of the best quotes from the piece:
“The best was when my mother-in-law was kissing Jerry Rice,” Jennifer Restrani, whose wedding in San Ramon, California, was crashed by Rice, said. “My husband went over to his dad and said, ‘Dad, mom is kissing Jerry Rice,’ and his dad just nodded and said ‘It’s OK.’”
You can read the full article here: The Ringer
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