George Rice (American football)
| No. 72 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Defensive tackle | ||||||
| Personal information | |||||||
| Born | June 20, 1944 Liberty, Missouri, U.S. | ||||||
| Died | December 26, 2010 (aged 66) Sealy, Texas, U.S. | ||||||
| Height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | ||||||
| Weight | 260 lb (118 kg) | ||||||
| Career information | |||||||
| High school | Istrouma (Baton Rouge, Louisiana) | ||||||
| College | LSU (1962–1965) | ||||||
| NFL draft | 1966: 1st round, 12th overall pick | ||||||
| AFL draft | 1966: 3rd round, 21st overall pick | ||||||
| Career history | |||||||
Playing | |||||||
Coaching | |||||||
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| Awards and highlights | |||||||
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| Career AFL statistics | |||||||
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George Gaylen Rice (June 10, 1944 – December 26, 2010) was an American professional football defensive tackle who played four seasons in the American Football League (AFL) with the Houston Oilers. He was selected by the Oilers in the third round of the 1966 AFL draft. Rice was also selected by the Chicago Bears in the first round of the 1966 NFL draft. He played college football for the LSU Tigers.
Early life
George Gaylen Rice was born on June 10, 1944, in Liberty, Missouri.[1] He participated in football, basketball, and track and field at Istrouma High School in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He was a first-team All-State lineman in football.[2]
College career
Rice played college football for the LSU Tigers of Louisiana State University.[3] He was on the freshman team in 1962 and was a letterman from 1963 to 1965.[1] He was an All-American in 1965. He also named first-team All-SEC in 1964 and 1965. He participated in the Hula Bowl in 1966.[4]
Professional career
Rice was selected by the Chicago Bears in the first round, with the 12th overall pick, of the 1966 NFL draft and by the Houston Oilers in the third round, with the 21st overall pick, of the 1966 AFL draft.[5] He chose to sign with the Oilers on January 2, 1966.[6] He played in five games, starting one, for the Oilers during the 1966 season.[5] Rice appeared in all 14 games, starting 13, in 1967, recording 6.5 sacks and two fumble recoveries.[5] He also started for Houston in the 1967 AFL Championship Game, a 40–7 loss to the Oakland Raiders.[5] Rice played in 11 games, all starts, in 1968, totaling 2.5 sacks and one fumble recovery.[5] He appeared in seven games during his final season in 1970 and posted one sack.[5] He had knee surgery on November 4, 1969.[7]
Coaching career
Rice coached at Memorial Hall School in Houston, Texas[8] from 1971 to 1974.
He later served as an assistant coach to the defensive line on the Houston Oilers from 1975 to 1976.[2]
Personal life
Rice died on December 26, 2010, in Sealy, Texas.[1]
References
- ^ a b c "GEORGE RICE". Pro Football Archives. Retrieved May 16, 2025.
- ^ a b "Services Scheduled for Former Houston Oiler George Rice". titansonline.com. December 29, 2010. Retrieved August 7, 2014.
- ^ "GEORGE GAYLEN RICE". sealynews.com. January 6, 2011. Retrieved August 7, 2014.
- ^ "All-Americans" (PDF). lsusports.net. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 26, 2015. Retrieved August 7, 2014.
- ^ a b c d e f "George Rice". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved May 16, 2025.
- ^ "George Rice Transactions". Pro Football Archives. Retrieved May 16, 2025.
- ^ "Zeke Moore May Miss Oiler Game". Longview News-Journal. United Press International. November 4, 1969. pp. 1B. Retrieved May 16, 2025.
- ^ Rookie Coach Rice Foresees Oiler Success Holland, Herb. Houston Chronicle. Thursday, July 24, 1975. Page 21