Jerry Rice's Recovery From Knee Injury Is Fueled By Wife's Strength

Jerry Rice suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in the San Francisco 49ers' season-opening loss at Tampa Bay.

It was the first serious injury in the All-Pro receiver's 13-year career. As much as he might have wanted to feel sorry for himself, however, he couldn't.

Not when he paused to consider what his wife, Jackie, had endured a year ago because of a difficult childbirth.

"That made me get up and try and walk off the field on my own power," Rice said. "I'll never be as tough as she's been. But lying on the field,that crossed my mind, and it gave me the strength and courage to get up."

This year, he is leaning on his wife to help him through the tough times.

Although the 49ers announced he would miss the season, Rice said he has always intended to return this year. He has set Dec. 15 - when the 49ers face the Denver Broncos in a Monday night game - as his target date.

"Of course, it's not just up to me," Rice said. "The doctors would have to approve it. But I can say if things continue to progress along like they have the last couple of weeks, I can't see any reason why I won't be ready to come back by then.

"I attacked my rehab with a vengeance. And I have to admit, I have gotten a lot of my inner strength in being able to keep working hard from Jackie."

Last year, Jackie nearly died from complications of the birth of the couple's third child, Jada Symone. Jackie suffered extensive bleeding during the delivery and was in a coma for a month.

"I found out a lot of about toughness right then," Jerry Rice said. "I was so proud of her and how she handled the situation. But it was tough on me ... much more so than anybody knew because I had always been the guy that everybody leaned on in tough times. But I was scared. The fact that she's alive is a miracle."

Based on Rice's on field-performance, his fans could never realize the struggles of his family. In helping the 49ers to a 12-4 record last season, Rice earned All-Pro honors after leading the NFL with 108 catches, good for 1,254 yards and eight touchdowns. It was the third time he has led the league in receptions.

"I came real close to quitting, and nobody really knew about it because I kept it to myself," Rice said. "For so many years, football was No. 1 for me. But after that incident, family is first. Football is a way for me to provide for them."

Jackie said: "Jerry is so strong. He is a rock inside. I didn't want him to have to worry about me, but I knew he would. You could see the worry in his face, but he refused to talk about it.

"He was always there to give me anything I needed. He took care of the house and the kids and kept right on playing at the same level that he always had."

Jackie Rice said the role reversal has been a good thing and has drawn them closer as a family. But as much as she likes having her husband around the house, she admits it's driving them crazy.

"He can't sit still," Jackie said. "He has to be doing something. That's the tough thing throughout this process, making sure he doesn't try and overdo things. It was killing him just sitting around the house. But it was nice to be able to pamper him after all that he did for me last year."