Ray Rice
A versatile running back whose on-field brilliance, including a Super Bowl win, was tragically overshadowed by a single off-field act.
Born 1987 (age 39)·American football player·Birthday: January 22·Millennials
Biography
Ray Rice's football story is a complex tapestry of spectacular achievement and profound personal failure. At Rutgers University, he rewrote the record books, becoming a consensus All-American and proving himself as one of the nation's most complete backs. Drafted by the Baltimore Ravens, he quickly became the engine of their offense. Rice was a dual-threat phenomenon, equally dangerous taking handoffs and catching passes out of the backfield. His low center of gravity and surprising power made him a nightmare in open space. He was central to the Ravens' identity, earning three Pro Bowl selections and playing a pivotal role in their Super Bowl XLVII victory. However, his career and legacy were irrevocably altered in 2014 when a video surfaced showing him assaulting his then-fiancée in an elevator. The incident led to his indefinite suspension from the NFL, a suspension from which he never returned. Rice's story remains a stark, often-cited case study in American sports, a reminder of how athletic excellence can be erased by personal conduct, and his name is now invoked more in discussions about domestic violence than about football prowess.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Ray was born in 1987, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Ray Was Born
The biggest hits of 1987
#1 Movie
Three Men and a Baby
Best Picture
The Last Emperor
#1 TV Show
The Cosby Show
Ray's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1987Born
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1992Started school
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
2000Became a teenager
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2003Could drive
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2005Could vote
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2008Turned 21
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2017Turned 30
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Age 39 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won Super Bowl XLVII as a key offensive contributor for the Baltimore Ravens.
- Selected to the Pro Bowl three times (2009, 2011, 2012) and was a First-team All-Pro in 2011.
- Ranks second in Baltimore Ravens franchise history in career rushing yards and rushing touchdowns.
- Set the Rutgers University single-season rushing record with 1,794 yards in 2007.
Did You Know?
He was a standout high school running back in New Rochelle, New York, where he played alongside former NFL receiver Courtney Greene.
Rice led the NFL in total touches (rushing attempts + receptions) with 367 during the 2011 season.
Following his NFL exit, he has worked as a youth football coach and advocate against domestic violence.
“I let a lot of people down who believed in me.”
