Jerry Rice Jr. follows in the footsteps of ... Nate Montana?

Jerry Rice Jr. didn’t get picked during the NFL draft earlier this month, but he’s getting a shot at latching on with one of the teams his superstar father played for -- the San Francisco 49ers.

Rice, who had a tryout with the Baltimore Ravens last weekend, tweeted Monday that he’s going to work out with the 49ers this weekend.

Now that should be something really special for both Rice and the fans in San Francisco.

But doesn’t it sound a little familiar?

It should, because just last year Nate Montana, son of legendary 49ers quarterback Joe Montana, got a couple of workouts with the 49ers after not hearing his name called on draft day.

While the younger Montana didn’t end up wearing the scarlet and gold like his dad, you never know what might happen with Rice Jr., who didn’t get a job with the Ravens but seems to have impressed Coach John Harbaugh.

“Jerry Rice Jr. has done a nice job,” Harbaugh said of Rice, who had 19 receptions for 73 yards in three years with UCLA and UNLV. “He’s a really good athlete. He doesn’t have his dad’s size, but he sure got his athleticism. He runs in a real similar way. He’s got that West Coast offense down. He’s probably had that playbook since he was in the cradle.

“He knows all the rules of the crossing routes. He knows what to do, very good hands, real smooth athlete. He did a real nice job.”

Rice told The Baltimore Sun via text the Ravens said they’d put him on their list of players to consider signing in case a receiver gets injured.
But now, at least for one weekend, 49ers fans will have the thrill of seeing a guy named Jerry Rice catching passes for them again, and Rice will have the unforgettable experience of following in his father’s footsteps.

And then, unfortunately, he likely will then follow Nate Montana’s footsteps out of San Francisco without a job.