NFL great reveals secrets for beating travel stress

NFL icon and three-time Super Bowl winner Jerry Rice is one of the best players in football history. A member of two football Halls of Fame (pro and college), the San Francisco 49ers wide receiver was widely admired for his work ethic and preparation. Upon retiring in 2006 after more than two decades on the field, Rice held more than 30 league records.

Since then Rice has carved out a career in TV, including a fan-favorite turn on “Dancing with the Stars.” His newest project is a partnership with Marriott Rewards and SPG in which he will host a “Punt, Pass & Kick” master class in Atlanta at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the site of Super Bowl LIII next February.

Rice still lives in the Bay Area but estimates he travels more than 1 million miles every year. “It’s crazy,” he shrugs. “I’m always going places.” Here’s his travel advice:

■ Losers run late.

I always get to the airport early. I’m always on time. I was the same way when I played football. I’m never late for a meeting. I want to be able to go through security and not feel rushed, so I can relax in the airline lounge. The night before a trip, I make sure I have everything I need. It’s important to me to do that, just like when I laid my uniform out a certain way: The shoes had to be new, the pants had to be new, everything had to fit a certain way. Neat, organized. Everything is done the night before, because I don’t want to rush. I’d say I’m the best traveler I know because I am going to make sure everyone is packed the night before.

■Embrace the role of unofficial tour guide.

Traveling with a team is a little easier because wherever you’re going, whatever country, you’ve got someone to meet you at the airplane, and a bus to go to the hotel. There’s camaraderie. But some guys are not as responsible as certain other guys, so you have to make sure to call them early so they get on the road [on time]. It’s like being a tour guide. I had to do a lot of that throughout my career.

■Stay fit on the road without weights or machines.

A lot of people on the road, they let themselves go; they eat whatever or don’t work out. But I don’t have to have a gym to get a workout in. The majority of time, that’s how I do it. I don’t even call ahead to see if they have a gym. I can jump down, do three sets of 30 burpees, and that’s a total workout. You’re working every muscle in your body just jumping up and down on the floor: your core, arms, legs, everything. You wouldn’t believe it, but try that and you’ll be completely exhausted by three sets.

■ Take a trip to China, but be prepared for the cultural differences.

When you go to China, the tradition, the history-the Great Wall? It’s unbelievable to stand on it. There’s so much scenery. And in Shanghai? I’m just gonna tell you this one thing: The bathrooms are totally different. I’m going to leave it at that.

■ Visit Hawaii—for the golf.

I love Hawaii for the hospitality, and the weather is unreal. I remember going there for many years doing football camp. Now I go to play golf; I like to surprise people at the course and get a pick-up game. They have no idea I’m coming, and all of a sudden they’re in my foursome. I’m one of those guys that likes to get to the golf course early and warm up the right way, hitting some balls, rolling some putts. And I use social media to tell people where I’m going to be. If someone is going off right after me, I invite them into my foursome and go out for a great round of golf. They can be a little nervous at first, but I know how to relax people.

■ Have the mental toughness of the G.O.A.T.

If the plane is delayed or a flight is canceled—those happen a lot—you gotta be able to adjust. It was the same thing when I played football: When things weren’t going right—when you’re going though some adversity, or whatever—you have to fight through that. It’s the same with a flight [problem]. I know we all complain about airports, but you have to be patient and courteous to people. A lot of people that are stressed out at the airport, I try to make them smile.

■ Be a man of the people. I’ve had people shake my hand as I go through security. It’s cool to be recognized. People whisper, “Omigod, that’s Jerry Rice,” and if that makes their day, it’s worth it. The questions I get asked are fun: People want to know about my history, what made me want to play professional football, how I was able to endure for so many years. People don’t look at me only from football but from TV, because of “Dancing with the Stars.” [Rice was runner-up.] When I’m running to my flight, I’ve noticed women looking at me, and the dead giveaway is when they shimmy. I shimmy back. That happens a lot. You gotta let them know you’re human.