Hall of Fame wide receiver Jerry Rice on Monday joined San Francisco 49ers team reporter Keiana Martin on Instagram Live for a Q&A with fans. Before getting to the fan questions, the 49ers legend shared that he believes the team still has all the pieces in place to make another Super Bowl run and hopefully win this time around.
"We came up a little short in the Super Bowl, but we had a great season last year," Rice told Martin, "and I feel like they still have all those pieces in place right now. The time is now for the San Francisco 49ers. It's right now. You can't be looking down the road. You've got everybody in place right now, so you need to get it done."
Martin asked Rice if the 49ers could succumb to a Super Bowl hangover. After all, as difficult as it is for a Super Bowl champion to repeat, it is even more challenging for the loser in the big game to return and win it all the next season.
Rice explained that it's not necessarily a Super Bowl team underperforming that hurts them during a followup season.
"I think you're a target now," Rice explained, "because every team is going to give you their best shot. Every game is going to be like a playoff game, and I have gone through this. It's hard the next year. You've got to battle through, but I feel like they have the players that can do that, and it starts with [Jimmy Garoppolo].
"Yes, we paid him a lot of money, but I think he had a great season last year. I think he's only going to get better. I think what Kyle Shanahan said, and also John Lynch, about looking at Tom Brady, but they feel like Jimmy G is the guy for the San Francisco 49ers.
"And you've got to have defense, also. You win championships with defense. So everything is there, but they're going to have to fight hard this year because every game is going to be a physical game, and you better be ready to play because teams, they're going to come after you."