Rice first played organized football as a high school sophomore. By senior year he was an all-state receiver recruited by several colleges. He opted for a pass-reliant program where he could showcase his strengths and performed so well that the San Francisco 49ers made him a first-round pick in the 1985 NFL draft. He went on to win three Super Bowls with the team, play in 13 Pro Bowls, and set dozens of league records. Since retiring, he has worked in media, supported charitable work, and launched a natural-energy-drink company.
A version of this article appeared in the September–October 2022 issue of Harvard Business Review.