“Feel Like My Dad”: Brenden Rice Expresses Transitioning From Caleb Williams’ Preference to Joining Justin Herbert’s Team

Brenden Rice’s journey to the Los Angeles Chargers, a team that signed the son of the Hall of Fame receiver, has been a significant development in his career. Despite Caleb Williams’ preference for a teammate, Rice’s move to the Chargers has left Williams’ desire unfulfilled. Rice, now set to play with Justin Herbert, expressed his gratitude for the opportunity at the Los Angeles Chargers press conference. 

His father’s experience has profoundly influenced Brenden Rice’s NFL journey. The positive experience of joining Herbert’s squad has led him to reflect on the striking similarity between his and his dad’s journey in the NFL. While Brenden landed in Herbert’s squad, his father’s career took a different turn, going ‘hot’ after his son fell to the 7th round.   

Rice lives his father’s experience 

One of the best duos that NFL fans have been simping on is that of Williams and Rice. They were believed to be the next Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski. But now that the Chargers have drafted Rice, the legendary status remained unachieved. However, it did not affect Rice in any way as he considers himself to be lucky, just like his father. “I’m getting really good luck I feel like my dad…people want to say like oh like are you sad are you mad guys? I’m in the best position possible to go ahead and make my mark and make my own legacy I went from Caleb Williams to Justin Herbert and I’m in a room that’s going to allow me to compete day in and day out,” confessed Rice. 

Similarly, Jerry Rice too thrived at a small school in Mississippi. Gradually, luck favored him, and the San Francisco 49ers recognized his strengths. Growing up, he saw his dad rising from nothing to securing his position in the NFL. Branded, too, is expected to follow in his father’s footsteps. 

Rice is the Chargers’ late yet successful buy

Brenden Rice’s selection by the Chargers in the 2023 draft has added depth to the team’s wide receiver room. Despite the delay in the draft, Rice’s selection was a blessing, as he expressed his gratitude. His performance as a 2023 Second-Team All-Pac-12 honoree, leading the Trojans with 12 receiving touchdowns, has made him a valuable addition to the Chargers’ wide receiver room, which also includes bigshots like Simi Fehoko and Joshua Palmer. 

Even though Rice initially expressed his frustration with the delay in the draft, it did not take him much time to express his gratitude. “But at the same time, it was a blessing… I pray to go to a team that really wanted me and God felt as though the Los Angeles Chargers wanted me and it doesn’t matter how long it takes,” acknowledged Rice. 

Brenden has Jerry Rice’s trajectory handy in case he faces any obstructions on his way to reaching the peak of success in the NFL. Rice does not have to move far away and will remain in southern California, so it serves as a brownie point to his journey with Jim Harbaugh’s system.