Jerry Rice’s son pays a touching tribute to his best pal! The father-son wide receiver duo has long been a prominent name in the NFL. As a former Buff, Brenden Rice excelled in his WR role even before Deion Sanders arrived in Boulder. However, Brenden wasn’t alone on the field; he formed a strong bond with fellow Buffs WR Keith Miller III.

While COVID-19 and restrictions limited their playing time together, their bond remained strong. Thus, when Keith tragically passed away this April 11th, Brenden was heartbroken.

Now, months later, Brenden took to Instagram to honor his friend. He got new tattoos from Dakar Tattooing in Arizona. One leg features a tribute to his legendary dad Jerry Rice, with his iconic jersey number 80. Below it, Brenden included himself, sporting his NCAA jersey number 2.

On the other leg, Brenden tattooed Keith Miller III, complete with his Colorado jersey number 88 and angel wings. He also added “KM3” with a halo, as a means of permanent reminder of his friend. He also included the Rod Wave song “Feel the Same Way” with lyrics while showcasing the artwork.

In fact, it was a tough day when Keith’s funeral in Dallas fell on the same day Brenden got drafted into the NFL (April 27th). While serving as a pallbearer for his friend, Brenden received quite an emotional call informing him of his selection by the Los Angeles Chargers. Now, this bittersweet moment forever linked Miller’s memory with Brenden’s big break.

Sadly, just a few months later, Brenden had to face another heartbreaking loss of a friend. 

Jerry Rice’s son mourns another NFL rookie

The tragic death of Minnesota Vikings rookie cornerback Khyree Jackson hit NFL circles hard on July 6th. Jackson, along with two friends, was killed in a car crash in Maryland. Now, Jerry Rice’s son, Brenden was one of the first to pay his respects on social media. The Chargers rookie posted a simple message: “Rest up brotha….gone too soon.” But the loss seemed to weigh heavily on Brenden. He soon followed his post with a heartfelt Instagram story: “Tell somebody you love em today. You never know what could happen.” This shows how deep the loss is for the young Rice.

Brenden and Jackson likely faced off during the Senior Bowl game last year. Brenden might have even scored a touchdown touchdown pass for USC while Jackson, playing cornerback for Oregon, tried to stop him. Sadly, Jackson’s passing has turned that friendly competition into a memory tainted with grief. Looks like a pretty rough year for Brenden!