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Take a look at some behind-the-scenes footage of ESPN The Magazine's 'Body Issue', featuring some of today's most elite athletes. USA TODAY Sports
Hall of Fame wide receiver Jerry Rice thinks he's in pretty good shape for a 55-year-old.
In fact, he's convinced that he could still play professional football.
"I still feel like today, if I wanted to come back to football and play football, I could do it, at the age of 55," Rice told ESPN in conjunction with his appearance in ESPN The Magazine's annual body issue.
"I'm one of those guys that I still believe that if I wanted to, I could come back, catch over 80 balls and really be productive on the field. ... I think I'm still explosive, and I think I still can beat up on some defenses."
Rice, who will turn 56 in October, has been retired for nearly a dozen years. He was a 13-time Pro Bowler and three-time Super Bowl champion over the course of his 20-year career, and he still holds the NFL's career records for receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns.
Rice told ESPN that he practiced with one of his former teams, the San Francisco 49ers, last year and impressed some of the team's younger players with his agility and strength, despite his age.
"The young guys could not believe that after playing a game for 20 years, and being out of the game for 15 years or something, my body knew what to do — that I could run routes, that I could catch the ball, that I can beat them off the line of scrimmage and do all those things," Rice told the network.
The oldest player to ever appear in an NFL game is George Blanda, who retired at 48.
Rice is not the only Hall of Fame receiver who has recently expressed a belief that he can still play. Terrell Owens, who is 44 and was recently voted into the Hall of Fame, said in a radio appearance in September that "me not being on the field right now is a joke."
Contact Tom Schad at tschad@usatoday.com or on Twitter @Tom_Schad.
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Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (1) reacts as he jokes with players and coaches during the NFL football team's practice in Charlotte, N.C., Thursday, June 14, 2018.
Chuck Burton, AP
Baltimore Ravens linebacker Alvin Jones, left, runs a drill during an NFL football practice at the team's headquarters in Owings Mills, Md., Thursday, June 14, 2018.
Patrick Semansky, AP
Washington Redskins running back Derrius Guice (29) carries the ball past Redskins running back Martez Carter (22) Redskins running back Kapri Bibbs (35) during drills as part of veteran minicamp at Redskins Park.
Geoff Burke, USA TODAY Sports
Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) and quarterback Tyrod Taylor (5) throw passes during minicamp at the Cleveland Browns training facility.
Ken Blaze, USA TODAY Sports
Minnesota Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph (82) catches a pass during Vikings minicamp at TCO Performance Center.
Brad Rempel, Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck passes the ball during minicamp at Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center on June 12.
Trevor Ruszkowski, USA TODAY Sports
Baltimore Ravens tight end Hayden Hurst catches a pass during minicamp at the Under Armour Performance Center on June 12.
Evan Habeeb, USA TODAY Sports
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin makes a catch during minicamp at the ADPRO Sports Fieldhouse on June 12.
Timothy T. Ludwig, USA TODAY Sports
New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski catches the ball during an NFL football minicamp practice, Thursday, June 7, 2018, in Foxborough, Mass.
Steven Senne, AP
New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara runs trough drills during an NFL football practice in Metairie, La., Thursday, June 7, 2018.
Gerald Herbert, AP
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) makes a catch during practice at the NFL football team's training camp Thursday, June 7, 2018, in Tempe, Ariz.
Matt York, AP
Philadelphia Eagles' Carson Wentz in action during an organized team activity at the NFL football team's facility, Wednesday, June 6, 2018, in Philadelphia.
Matt Slocum, AP
Miami Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill (17) hands off to running back Frank Gore during practice at the NFL football team's training camp, Wednesday, June 6, 2018, at the Dolphins training facility in Davie, Fla.
Wilfredo Lee, AP
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) passes to running back Jaylen Samuels (38) during an NFL football practice, Wednesday, June 6, 2018, in Pittsburgh.
Keith Srakocic, AP
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) winds up for a pass during an NFL football minicamp practice, Tuesday, June 5, 2018, in Foxborough, Mass.
Steven Senne, AP
Cleveland Browns quarterback Tyrod Taylor (5) and quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) warm up during the team's organized team activity at its NFL football training facility Tuesday, June 5, 2018, in Berea, Ohio.
Ron Schwane, AP
Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (1) fist bumps wide receiver Curtis Samuel (10) during the team's practice in Charlotte, N.C., Monday, June 4, 2018.
Chuck Burton, AP
Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Charles Sims III (34) cuts around outside linebacker Kwon Alexander (58) and cornerback Vernon Hargreaves (28) during practice at the NFL football team's training camp Thursday, May 31, 2018, in Tampa, Fla.
Chris O'Meara, AP
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas (13) reaches for the ball during an NFL football practice in Metairie, La., Thursday, May 31, 2018.
Gerald Herbert, AP
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (10) throws the ball during the organized team activities training event at the SAP Performance Facility in Levi's Stadium.
Stan Szeto, USA TODAY Sports
Chicago Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky (10) hands off to running back Tarik Cohen during practice at the NFL football team's training camp Wednesday, May 30, 2018, in Lake Forest, Ill.
Charles Rex Arbogast, AP
Miami Dolphins running back Kenyan Drake runs through drills during an NFL organized team activities football practice, Wednesday, May 30, 2018, at the Dolphins training facility in Davie, Fla.
Wilfredo Lee, AP
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan (2) rolls out to pass during an NFL football practice Wednesday, May 30, 2018, in Flowery Branch, Ga.
John Bazemore, AP
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver John Ross reaches for a pass during practice at the NFL football team's training camp, Tuesday, May 29, 2018, in Cincinnati.
John Minchillo, AP
Carolina Panthers' Luke Kuechly, left, runs a drill during practice at the NFL football team's facility in Charlotte, N.C., Tuesday, May 29, 2018.
Chuck Burton, AP
Oakland Raiders running back Jalen Richard, right, practices at the team's NFL football training facility in Alameda, Calif., Tuesday, May 29, 2018.
Jeff Chiu, AP
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff, center, looks to pass during practice at the NFL football team's training camp in Thousand Oaks, Calif., Tuesday, May 29, 2018.
Michael Owen Baker, AP
New York Jets quarterbacks Teddy Bridgewater, left, Sam Darnold, center, and Josh McCown throw during practice at the NFL football team's training camp in Florham Park, N.J., Tuesday, May 29, 2018.
Seth Wenig, AP
Jacksonville Jaguars offensive tackles Will Richardson Jr., left, and Cam Robinson perform a drill during an NFL football practice Friday, May 25, 2018, in Jacksonville, Fla.
John Raoux, AP
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) throws the ball during an NFL football practice at the teams practice facility in Kansas City, Mo., Thursday, May 24, 2018.
Orlin Wagner, AP
Seattle Seahawks linebacker Shaquem Griffin, right, squares off against tight end Will Dissly (88), during a drill in NFL football practice, Thursday, May 24, 2018, in Renton, Wash.
Ted S. Warren, AP
Washington Redskins quarterback Alex Smith (11) passes during an NFL football team practice, Wednesday, May 23, 2018, in Ashburn, Va.
Nick Wass, AP
Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Jon Bostic (51) goes through a drill as other linebackers watch during NFL football practice, Thursday, May 24, 2018, in Pittsburgh.
Keith Srakocic, AP
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) looks to throw a pass during OTA's at the ADPRO Sports Fieldhouse.
Timothy T. Ludwig, USA TODAY Sports
New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) and quarterback Taysom Hill (7) race to reach a marker on the field during organized team activities at the Ochsner Sports Performance Center.
Derick E. Hingle, USA TODAY Sports
Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) throws a pass during organized team activities at the Cleveland Browns training facility.
Ken Blaze, USA TODAY Sports
Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott (21) runs through drills during organized team activities at Dallas Cowboys headquarters at The Star.
Matthew Emmons, USA TODAY Sports
Green Bay Packers running back Aaron Jones (33) during Green Bay Packers Organized Team Activities at Ray Nitschke Field.
Jim Matthews, USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin
Cleveland Browns defensive lineman Chad Thomas (92) runs a drill during organized team activities at the Cleveland Browns training facility.
Ken Blaze, USA TODAY Sports
Jacksonville Jaguars running back Leonard Fournette (27) takes the handoff from quarterback Blake Bortles (5) during organized team activities at TIAA Bank Field.
Reinhold Matay, USA TODAY Sports
Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Nigel Bradham (53) runs a drill in front of linebacker Jordan Hicks (58) during organized team activities at NovaCare Complex.
Bill Streicher, USA TODAY Sports
May 22, 2018; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles running back Jay Ajayi (26) runs with the ball during organized team activities at NovaCare Complex. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Bill Streicher, Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman (11) catches a pass during organized team activities at Gillette practice fields.
Stew Milne, Stew Milne-USA TODAY Sports
New York Jets quarterback Sam Darnold (14) throws a pass during organized team activities at Atlantic Health Training Center.
Noah K. Murray, Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports
Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) throws a pass during organized team activities at the team outdoor practice facility in Houston, Texas.
Shanna Lockwood, USA TODAY Sports
New England Patriots running back Sony Mitchel (51) catches a pass during organized team activities at Gillette practice fields.
Stew Milne, USA TODAY Sports
Los Angeles Rams receiver Brandin Cooks (12) catches a pass as safety John Johnson III (43) defends during organized team activities at Cal Lutheran University.
Kirby Lee, USA TODAY Sports
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff (16) throws a pass during organized team activities at Cal Lutheran University.
Kirby Lee, USA TODAY Sports
New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning (10) throws the ball during organized team activities at Quest Diagnostic Training Center.
Noah K. Murray, Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports
New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley (26) rushes against cornerback Eli Apple (24) and defensive back Orion Stewart (45) during practice at Quest Diagnostic Training Center.
Noah K. Murray, USA TODAY Sports
New York Giants cornerback Eli Apple (24) during a catching drill at Quest Diagnostic
Noah K. Murray, USA TODAY Sports
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