NBA’s Big Man Shaquille O’Neal is also one of the most liked celebs in the NFL world. Known for keeping his fans entertained with his interesting Instagram stories, this time, the 4x NBA champion brought the infamous rivalries of two top NFL players to the surface.
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Shaq shared an interesting Reel on his official Instagram account which was actually a compilation of iconic plays made by Prime Time Deion Sanders and Gentleman Jerry Rice. These two greats were part of an intense rivalry back in the day.
Shaquille O’Neal reminds his fans about the most iconic NFL rivalry
Neon Sanders played for the Atlanta Falcons for four years (1989–1993). From a lockdown corner to one of the most fierce competitors in the NFL world, Sanders did what many modern day footballers aspire to do on the field.
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Before the NFC South came into existence, the San Francisco 49ers and the Atlanta Falcons were division rivals. Their rivalry bled into the matches, and everyone saw that whenever Rice and Sanders went against each other.
Even though they engaged in cutthroat competitions, it only augmented their respect for each other. “I hated that guy, man [Deion Sanders]. Ah, man, we couldn’t get along. If Deion was on the opposite side. It was going down the next day. Deion was like, one of the fastest defensive backs. I had to double move, triple move – against Sanders – off the line of scrimmage. I had to come to the line with a plan,” Rice had once claimed.
Rice and Sanders put their differences aside to win a Super Bowl ring
The two Pro Football Hall of Famers are men of the highest order. However, their playing styles were vastly different. While Sanders was a trash-talker, Rice gave him the answers on the field. But it was time for them to put their differences aside in 1994 when Coach Prime joined San Francisco.
When he joined the team, the 10-time All-Pro wide receiver questioned his work ethic. As per their teammate Ricky Watters, the two did not see eye-to-eye.
Jerry Rice and Deion Sanders in 1994. 🍿 pic.twitter.com/cvEtlzYS76
— Timeless Sports (@timelesssports_) September 21, 2020
The team was preparing for the most significant contest while Sanders was partying at night. The legendary WR confronted him, but their conversation became heated. Even though Deion Sanders stood up for himself, he had to give up.
San Francisco won the Super Bowl. Hence, their “feud” did not matter too much, but started once again when Sanders was signed by the Dallas Cowboys in 1995.
