Former Illinois legend continues to be honored after his playing career

If you are under the age of 20 years old, you might not realize that Illinois football had some great players back in the day.

Now, I am not talking about distant Illini players like Red Grange. While good, Grange predates anyone alive today. I am talking about as recently as the 1990s.

Simeon Rice was one of those special players for the Orange and Blue. Playing from 1992 through the 1995 season, Rice earned first-team All-Big Ten honors in three seasons and was a first-team All-American in 1994 and 1995.

After his great Illini career, Rice was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals with pick No. 3 in the first round of the 1996 NFL Draft. Rice lived up to his billing, too.

During Rice’s 12-year career, he was a one-time All-Pro and made the Pro Bowl three times. He also hoisted the Lombardi Trophy in 2002 with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In fact, most of Rice’s career came with the Bucs, as he spent six seasons in Tampa Bay.

That great run with the Bucs saw great success, and now that success is being honored. On Monday, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers posted on social media that Rice will be inducted into the 2025 Ring of Honor. This will take place on November 30, when, fittingly, the Bucs take on the Cardinals.

Simeon Rice joins some rarified air by being one of the few members of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Ring of Honor

The honor that Rice is getting from the Bucs isn’t something that happens that often. According to their website, Tampa Bay will induct Rice, who will become member No. 16 in the Ring of Honor.

There are some other notable names from the past that are members of this small club. Derrick Brooks, Warren Sapp, and Mike Alstott were all huge players in that Super Bowl in 2002. They are all three in the Ring of Honor already. John Lynch and Tony Dungy are two other big-time names to mention as well.