Jerry Rice’s 4 Kids: All About His Sons and Daughters

Jerry Rice’s legacy is carried on through his four kids.

The former San Francisco 49ers wide receiver was married to his first wife, Jacqueline Bernice Mitchell, from 1987 to 2009. During the course of their decades-long marriage, they welcomed three children: Jaqui, Jerry Jr. and Jada. While he was still married to Mitchell, Jerry also welcomed his youngest son, Brenden, with Djakarta Edwards.

After his divorce from Mitchell in 2009, Jerry later remarried a decade later and wed Latisha Pelayo in October 2019, though the couple share no children.

Jerry doesn’t often discuss his children or fatherhood in interviews. He gave rare quotes about his kids, including his youngest son, Brenden, on his NFL aspirations to the NFL Network in March 2024, sharing that he was “just being a parent” and was there to support his son at the NFL Combine.

When asked if the experience of watching his son was going to be a “nervous stretch” for Jerry, he said he was “always nervous” when it came to his children, explaining, “When your kids are trying to do something that’s really incredible, you always try to put them in a position when they can win.”

Here’s everything to know about Jerry Rice’s kids: Jaqui, Jerry Jr., Jada and Brenden.

Jaqui Rice Gold, 37

Jerry and Mitchell welcomed their first child together, daughter Jaqui Rice Gold, in 1987.

Jaqui attended Georgetown University for college and received a B.A. in political science and government in 2009, according to her LinkedIn. She went on to attend law school at Fordham University for one year, between 2012 and 2013.

After college, Jaqui broke into the world of business. From 2017 through January 2020, she served as the co-founder and CEO of the company Tressly, a beauty marketplace focused on hair extensions, per LinkedIn. In March 2020, Jaqui went into business with her husband, Trevion Gold, and her father, when they founded the beverage company, G.O.A.T. Fuel. Jaqui is the co-founder and CEO of the company, while Trevion is the co-founder and chief brand office and Jerry is the co-founder and executive chairman.

Jaqui and her husband got inspired to start the company when they experienced a bout of burnout from their entrepreneurial pursuits. She told Essence in June 2021 that she “got a little jealous” of her dad when she saw him waking up at 5 a.m. with plenty of energy, so she looked to him for inspiration.

“He’s got so much energy and I’m in LA grinding and trying to do my thing,” she said, noting that he’d invested in similar companies in the past. “So we just started talking and I said, ‘Dad, you’ve always been so meticulous about what you put into your body, obviously. And I’m trying to drink energy drinks now because we need it. Clearly, you’ve got energy. Let’s figure something out.’ ”

While the brand stands on its own, Jaqui told Afrotech in April 2024 that her dad was a “true co-founder.” She explained, “He really is involved in the business in the sense of making calls to distributors and buyers. He’s very active with investors as well.”

Over the years, G.O.A.T. Fuel has become the official energy drink of the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA and the Chicago Sky in the WNBA.

As for her personal life, Jaqui and Trevion got married on Sept. 9, 2021. She reflected on their one year anniversary and their relationship on social media, writing, in part, “We work so hard and so much…only we know…and I wouldn’t have it any other way. You’re perfect for me. Through the ups and the downs, thank you for being you.”

She announced in May 2024 that they would be expecting their first child as a couple in ” August/September 2024″ in a sweet post on Instagram. Jerry celebrated the news in the comment section of the post, writing, “Grandpa GOAT is Ready! Congrats.”

On Sept. 21, 2024, Jaqui and Trevion shared a joint post announcing that their baby boy had arrived at the beginning of the month.

“Introducing our greatest little love. Trevion Jay Gold III aka JJ, born September 1. JJ – we love you more than words describe and feel so blessed to be your parents. Taking in every moment,” they wrote in the caption of the post, which featured several images of their baby, as well as the couple with their new arrival.

Jerry Rice Jr., 32

Jerry and Mitchell welcomed their second child together, son Jerry Rice Jr., on July 27, 1991.

Jerry Jr. was raised in Atherton, Calif. and attended Menlo High, according to his professional bio. After playing high school football for four years, he became a walk-on player for the University of California, Los Angeles. After two years playing at UCLA, he received a scholarship for the rest of college and graduated with a BSc in history.

He continued to follow in his fathers footsteps after college and was signed as a free agent to the Washington Commanders in 2014. He played for one season in the NFL and two years in Montreal in the CFL until 2016.

In his life after football, Jerry Jr. pivoted to a career in real estate. He worked as a real estate agent for Alain Pinel Realtors from 2017 to 2019, according to his LinkedIn. Since May 2019, he has worked as a realtor for Oldham Group Compass in the state of California.

Jada Rice, 28

Jerry and Mitchell welcomed their third child together, daughter Jada Rice, on May 16, 1996.

Jada attended the University of San Francisco where she graduated with a B.A. in psychology in 2018, according to her LinkedIn. While in college, she worked as a psychological researcher for several semesters. After college, she moved to Texas, where she worked as an insurance agent at several companies before she took on roles as a senior benefits consultant, financial representative and September 2022, began her current role as a senior insurance specialist.

Jada shared a sweet post in October 2021 celebrating her dad’s birthday. She posted a throwback photo from her childhood posing with her dad, calling him her “#1 man” in the caption. She added, “A true 🐐 on and off the field. You’ve set the standards, how could I ever settle for less? ❤️ Love you to the 🌙 and back @jerryrice.”

Though she has previously rarely posted on social media, Jada has been more active online in 2024. In May, she celebrated her 28th birthday with a carousel of photographs showing her at various stages during her childhood.

“Whenever they ask who you do it for, say you do it for the smallest version of yourself 🥰😊. Everyday I ask what this little version of me would want my life to look like and at 28 I’m right where I’m supposed to be. Giving the glory to God every second. Thanks for the birthday wishes🙂‍↔️🥳🤭,” she wrote in the caption.

Jada has also shared photographs of herself in Las Vegas in February 2024, with “a really cute dog,” in Texas in March, gifting rapper Future with what appeared to be a signed version of her father’s San Francisco 49ers jersey in August, and modelling a Descendant Creative Worker Association cap in October.

Brenden Rice, 22

Jerry and Edwards welcomed their first child together, son Brenden Rice, on March 18, 2002.

Growing up, Brenden didn’t live with his father. He told Cronkite News in November 2019 that he did not have a “father figure for a long period” and that his mom “truly took over both roles.”

However, he told the outlet that he and his father have grown closer over the years, adding, “It truly has gone from, ‘Yeah we talk but nothing too close’ to actually being, ‘Hey, what’s up’ anytime throughout the day.”

He also recalled his first memory with his father, which occurred when he was around 5 when they were both “just staring at each other” in a hotel room. Brenden shared, “He said to me, ‘You know why I can open my eyes for so long? Because when that ball is in the air, you have to keep your eyes open.’ “

“So I would try to hit him with the staring contest all the time,” he added. “It was so funny.”

While his siblings grew up in California, Brenden attended Hamilton High School in Chandler, Ariz. In high school, he played football like his father and older brother, in addition to being on the basketball and track teams. He started his college football career at the University of Colorado Boulder before he transferred to the University of Southern California, which he announced on social media in January 2022.

In April 2024, Brenden was selected in the seventh round in the NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Chargers. It was a bittersweet moment for the rookie, as Brenden received the call in the airport while he waited to board a flight to go to his best friend’s funeral where he delivered an obituary speech and served as a pallbearer.

Ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft, Brenden spoke to the Associated Press about the comparison made between him and his father as football players, noting, “The standard is ridiculous so you can see what you’re expecting from me.”

Brenden also paid homage to his father in October 2023 when he recreated his dad’s iconic 90’s ad campaign for Breathe Right nasal strips. Speaking to PEOPLE on set about carrying on his father’s legacy, he said he felt “truly fortunate and blessed” to be able to “get this father-son tradition going.”

“You see the first generation, you see the second generation,” he explained. “So, now that his time has passed within the league, it’s like passing the torch. Now it’s my turn, and I’m glad to build this partnership and keep it going within the Rice family.”

In addition to carrying on his father’s talent as a football star, Brenden said he learned “leadership capabilities” from his dad.

“There’s a lot that goes into leadership and being that role model and I feel as though he presented himself as a perfect role model all his career and all his life,” he said of his dad. “He was never the flashy dude, always humble, always inspired others to go out there and create the opportunities for themselves and put forth the work ethic to go ahead and drive forward.”