Simeon Rice
| Denver Broncos | |
|---|---|
| Career information | |
| College: | Illinois |
| NFL draft: | 1996 / round: 1 / pick: 3 |
| Career history | |
| |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Simeon Rice (born February 24, 1974 in Chicago, Illinois) is an American football defensive end who plays for the Denver Broncos. He went to University of Illinois and was drafted in 1996 by Arizona. He attended Mount Carmel High School on Chicago's south side, the same school as current Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb.
College career
Simeon Rice attended the University of Illinois, where he set the Big Ten Conference record for career sacks with 44.5; the record was previously held by Mark Messner of Michigan with 36. As a junior, he set a school single season sack record with 16 sacks. He was also a two-time All-American pick.
NFL career
Rice was drafted by the Cardinals with the 3rd overall pick of the 1996 NFL Draft. He garnered attention with a 12.5 sack rookie campaign, and helped lead the perennial bottom-dwelling Cardinals to an improbable playoff berth during the 1998 season. He signed with Tampa Bay as a free agent before the 2001 season and helped lead them to a Super Bowl victory in 2002, and was just edged out of the MVP voting by his teammate Dexter Jackson. His 121 career sacks rank 2nd among active players, behind Michael Strahan, and 13th all-time. Rice also is the second fastest player to achieve 100 career sacks behind Eagles/Packers legend Reggie White. He was placed on Injured Reserve midway through the 2006 season with a shoulder ailment. On July 26, 2007, Rice was released by the Bucs due to a failed physical.
On September 3rd 2007, Rice was signed by the Denver Broncos to a 1 year contract.