137. Simeon Rice

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Simeon Rice's pro career began in 1996, when the Arizona Cardinals drafted him third overall. Playing at Defensive End, Rice proved his worth instantly with a 12.5 Sack year and won the Defensive Rookie of the Year Award. Rice played with the Cardinals for five seasons and had three 10-plus-sack years there, peaking with 16.5 in 1998, which was good enough for second overall.

Rice would sign with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2001, adding to an already potent defensive corps. He would be part of Tampa’s dominating Super Bowl win in 2002, and he would again finish second in Sacks (15.5) and was named a First Team All-Pro. The year after, he went to his third Pro Bowl, again was second in Sacks with 15.5, and led the NFL in Forced Fumbles (6). With the Bucs, Rice had five consecutive 11-plus sack seasons (2001-05).

He played until 2007 and retired with 122.0 Sacks, which was phenomenal considering how little he faced the pass rush in comparison to his peers.

The Bullet Points

Country of Origin: Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A.
Eligible Since: Tuesday, 01 January 2013
Position: Defensive End
Games Played: 174
Notable Statistics: 161 Games Started
5 Interceptions
48 Interception Return Yards
43 Passes Defended**
37 Forced Fumbles*
8 Fumble Recoveries
39 Fumble Recovery Yards
122.0 Quarterback Sacks
483 Combined Tackles
403 Solo Tackles
80 Assisted Tackles
93 Tackles for Loss**
7 Quarterback Hits***
1 Safety
104 Approximate Value

7 Playoff Games
7 Playoff Games Started
1 Pass Defended**
4 Forced Fumbles*
1 Fumble Recovery
6 Fumble Recovery Yards
7.0 Quarterback Sacks
23 Combined Tackles
19 Solo Tackles
4 Assisted Tackles
3 Tackles for Loss*

*Forced Fumbles were unofficially calculated by Pro Football Reference from 1978 to 1998
**Passes Defended and Tackles for Loss were not statistics until the 1999 Season.
***Quarterback Hits was not a statistic until the 2006 Season.
Played For: Arizona Cardinals, Denver Broncos, Indianapolis Colts, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
College: Illinois
Drafted: 1st Round, 3rd Overall in 1996
Major Accolades and Awards:
Super Bowl Rings (Tampa Bay Buccaneers XXXVII)
First Team All-Pro Selection (1) (2002)
Second Team All-Pro Selection (2) (1999 & 2003)
Pro Bowl Selection (3) (1999, 2002 & 2003)
AP Defensive Rookie of the Year (1996)
UPI Defensive Rookie of the Year (1996)
PFWA Defensive Rookie of the Year (1996)
All-Rookie (1996)
Most Forced Fumbles (1) (2003)
Other Points of Note:
Top Ten Finishes: Approximate Value (2) (2002 & 2003)
Top Ten Finishes: Fumble Recoveries (1) (1998)
Top Ten Finishes: Tackles for Loss (1) (2001)
Top Ten Finishes: Forced Fumbles (4) (1999, 2003, 2005 & 2006)
Top Ten Finishes: Quarterback Sacks (6) (1996, 1999, 2002, 2003, 2004 & 2005)
Notable All Time Rankings: 16. Forced Fumbles: 28*
32. Quarterback Sacks: 122.0**
69. Tackles for Loss: 93

*Ranking includes Pro Football Reference's unoffical calculation from 1978 to 1998
**Ranking includes Pro Football Reference's unofficial calculation from 1960 to 1981.
Years Nominated for the Hall of Fame: Semi-Finalist: 2018 & 2020

Should Simeon Rice be in the Hall of Fame?

Definitely put him in! - 83.9%

Maybe, but others deserve it first. - 6.5%

Probably not, but it wouldn't be the end of the world. - 6.5%

No opinion. - 0%

No way! - 3.2%

Last modified on Tuesday, 22 September 2026 04:08

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