Monty Rice

Last updated

Monty Rice
Monty Rice 2021 09-19.jpg
Rice with the Tennessee Titans in 2021
No. 45 – Detroit Lions
Position Linebacker
Roster status Practice squad
Personal information
Born (1999-01-08) January 8, 1999 (age 26)
Huntsville, Alabama, U.S.
Height6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight233 lb (106 kg)
Career information
High school James Clemens (Madison, Alabama)
St. John Paul II Catholic (Huntsville, Alabama)
College Georgia (2017–2020)
NFL draft 2021: 3rd round, 92nd overall pick
Career history
* Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Awards and highlights
Career NFL statistics as of 2024
Total tackles 129
Pass deflections 2
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Montavian Lamar Rice-Jordan (born January 8, 1999) is an American professional football linebacker for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). He previously played for the Tennessee Titans and New Orleans Saints. He played college football for the Georgia Bulldogs and was selected by the Titans in the third round of the 2021 NFL draft.

Contents

Early life

Rice attended St. John Paul II Catholic High School in Huntsville, Alabama, his freshman year before transferring to James Clemens High School in Madison, Alabama where he spent his final three years. [1] As a senior in 2016, he had 137 tackles, one sack, four interceptions and four touchdowns. Rice originally committed to play college football at Louisiana State University (LSU) but later changed the commitment to the University of Georgia. [2] [3] [4]

College career

Rice played in 14 games with one start as a true freshman at Georgia in 2017 and had 22 tackles. [5] As a sophomore in 2018, he started five of nine games recording 59 tackles and one sack. [6] [7] Rice started all 14 games his junior year in 2019 and was named a co-winner of the team's Vince Dooley Defensive MVP after leading the team with 89 tackles. Rice returned to Georgia for his senior season in 2020 rather than enter the 2020 NFL draft. [8]

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump
6 ft 0+3⁄8 in
(1.84 m)		233 lb
(106 kg)		30+3⁄4 in
(0.78 m)		8+3⁄4 in
(0.22 m)		4.57 s1.58 s2.67 s4.33 s7.34 s32.0 in
(0.81 m)		10 ft 1 in
(3.07 m)
All values from Pro Day [9] [10] [11]

Tennessee Titans

Rice was selected by the Tennessee Titans in the third round, 92nd overall, of the 2021 NFL draft. [12] On July 24, 2021, Rice signed his four-year rookie contract with the Titans. [13]

Rice entered his rookie season as a backup inside linebacker behind Rashaan Evans, Jayon Brown, and David Long Jr. He suffered an ankle injury in Week 12 and was placed on injured reserve on November 30, 2021. [14]

Rice was placed on the Active/physically unable to perform list on July 23, 2022. [15] He was placed on the reserve list on August 24. He was activated on October 8. [16]

On December 5, 2023, Rice was waived by the Titans. [17]

New Orleans Saints

On December 6, 2023, Rice was claimed off waivers by the New Orleans Saints and signed to their active roster. [18] He was waived on August 27, 2024. [19]

Atlanta Falcons

On August 30, 2024, Rice was signed to the Atlanta Falcons practice squad. [20] He was released on October 21. [21]

New England Patriots

On November 5, 2024, Rice was signed to the New England Patriots practice squad. [22] He was promoted to the active roster on January 4, 2025. [23] On August 22, Rice was released by the Patriots. [24]

Detroit Lions

On September 9, 2025, Rice was signed to the Detroit Lions practice squad. [25]

References

  1. ↑ Boyette, Daniel (September 1, 2016). "'No one's invincible': Alabama, Auburn target Monty Rice bounced back from leg injury, became coveted recruit". AL.com. Retrieved October 18, 2020.
  2. ↑ Legge, Dean (January 2, 2017). "Monty Rice flips from LSU to Georgia". Online Athens. Retrieved October 18, 2020.
  3. ↑ Boyette, Daniel (December 12, 2016). "'The happiest day of my life': In-state LB Monty Rice chooses LSU over Auburn, Georgia". AL.com. Retrieved October 18, 2020.
  4. ↑ "How Georgia's Monty Rice made up for what he perceived to be a 'mistake'". Macon.com. July 17, 2018. Retrieved October 18, 2020.
  5. ↑ Weiszer, Marc (July 26, 2018). "Bulldogs ready for Monty Rice to make impact at ILB". Online Athens. Retrieved May 28, 2023.
  6. ↑ "How Monty Rice's 'businessman' attitude about football has led to success for UGA linebacker". Macon.com. August 6, 2019. Retrieved October 18, 2020.
  7. ↑ Weiszer, Marc (August 6, 2019). "Bulldogs ready for Monty Rice and his serious demeanor back on field". Online Athens. Retrieved October 18, 2020.
  8. ↑ Towers, Chip (January 8, 2020). "Monty Rice makes big decision for Georgia". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved October 18, 2020.
  9. ↑ "Monty Rice Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
  10. ↑ "Monty Rice, Georgia, ILB, 2021 NFL Draft Scout, NCAA College Football". draftscout.com. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
  11. ↑ "Tennessee Titans select Georgia Bulldogs linebacker Monty Rice with No. 92 Pick in 2021 draft". NFL.com. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
  12. ↑ Wyatt, Jim (April 30, 2021). "Titans Select Georgia ILB Monty Rice in Third Round of NFL Draft". TennesseeTitans.com. Retrieved May 27, 2023.
  13. ↑ Williams, Charean (July 24, 2021). "Titans have all eight draft choices under contract after signing Monty Rice". ProFootballTalk. Retrieved May 28, 2023.
  14. ↑ Moraitis, Mike (November 30, 2021). "Tennessee Titans place LB Monty Rice on IR". Titans Wire. Retrieved May 28, 2023.
  15. ↑ Wyatt, Jim (July 23, 2022). "Roster Moves: Titans Bring Back DB Joshua Kalu While Placing Three Players on the PUP List". TennesseeTitans.com. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
  16. ↑ Wyatt, Jim (October 8, 2022). "Titans Activate LB Monty Rice to 53-Man Roster, Place WR Treylon Burks on Injured Reserve". TennesseeTitans.com. Retrieved May 27, 2023.
  17. ↑ Wyatt, Jim (December 5, 2023). "Titans Waive Linebacker Monty Rice". TennesseeTitans.com.
  18. ↑ Sigler, John. "Saints announce 5 roster moves before Week 14 matchup vs. Panthers". Saints Wire. Retrieved December 7, 2023.
  19. ↑ "New Orleans Saints announce roster moves". NewOrleansSaints.com. August 27, 2024.
  20. ↑ Waack, Terrin (August 30, 2024). "Falcons complete initial practice squad with 3 signings, including a familiar face". AtlantaFalcons.com.
  21. ↑ Urben, Matt (October 21, 2024). "Falcons sign two players to practice squad, release two others". Falcons Wire. USA Today. Retrieved October 22, 2024.
  22. ↑ "Patriots Make a Series of Roster Moves". Patriots.com. November 5, 2024.
  23. ↑ "Patriots Make A Series of Transactions". Patriots.com. January 4, 2025.
  24. ↑ "Patriots Release 14 Players". Patriots.com. Retrieved August 23, 2025.
  25. ↑ "Detroit Lions add 2 new practice squad players". Pride of Detroit. September 9, 2025.
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