| Monty Rice | |
| Current Team: | New England Patriots |
| Number: | 45 |
| Position: | Linebacker |
| Birth Date: | 8 January 1999 |
| Birth Place: | Huntsville, Alabama, U.S. |
| Height Ft: | 6 |
| Height In: | 0 |
| Weight Lb: | 233 |
| High School: | James Clemens St. John Paul II Catholic (Huntsville, Alabama) |
| College: | Georgia (2017–2020) |
| Draftyear: | 2021 |
| Draftround: | 3 |
| Draftpick: | 92 |
| Pastteams: | |
| Status: | Practice squad |
| Highlights: | |
| Statleague: | NFL |
| Statseason: | 2023 |
| Statlabel1: | Total tackles |
| Statvalue1: | 128 |
| Statlabel2: | Sacks |
| Statlabel3: | Forced fumbles |
| Statlabel4: | Fumble recoveries |
| Statlabel5: | Interceptions |
| Pfr: | RiceMo00 |
Montavian Lamar Rice-Jordan (born January 8, 1999) is an American professional football linebacker for the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL). He previously played for the Tennessee Titans and New Orleans Saints. He played college football at Georgia and was selected by the Titans in the third round of the 2021 NFL draft.
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]
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]
Rice was drafted by the Tennessee Titans in the third round, 92nd overall, of the 2021 NFL draft.[9] On July 24, 2021, Rice signed his four-year rookie contract with the Titans.[10]
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.[11]
Rice was placed on the Active/physically unable to perform list on July 23, 2022.[12] He was placed on the reserve list on August 24. He was activated on October 8.[13]
On December 5, 2023, Rice was waived by the Titans.[14]
On December 6, 2023, Rice was claimed off waivers by the New Orleans Saints and signed to their active roster.[15] He was waived on August 27, 2024.[16]
On August 30, 2024, Rice was signed to the Atlanta Falcons practice squad.[17] He was released on October 21.[18]
On November 5, 2024, Rice was signed to the New England Patriots practice squad.[19]