Richard Sherman was once considered the best cornerback in the NFL during his time with the Seattle Seahawks and their famous «Legion of Boom.» But Sherman’s career finally came to an end after the 2021 season, and he remembered the exact play he told him it was time to hang up his shoes.
Sherman was a five-time Pro Bowler, three-time All Pro, and Super Bowl champion when he came to Tampa Bay to play for the Buccaneers on a one-year contract for the 2021 season. He had completed his second year with the San Francisco 49ers the season before. , after seven outstanding seasons in Seattle.
But a meeting with the Philadelphia Eagles would change the then-33-year-old’s mind about continuing his NFL career, and it was a specific route that rookie DeVonta Smith ran against him at Lincoln Financial Field.
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Richard Sherman of the Buccaneers looks on from the sideline against the Philadelphia Eagles during the wild card game at Raymond James Stadium on January 16, 2022 in Tampa, Florida. (Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
«I’ll never forget that I was in Tampa and I had just come back from an injury. A calf injury or something,» he said on his «The Richard Sherman Podcast.» … It was my third game and we had them all. on a Thursday night and DeVonta must have run the comeback. And he had it under control. I was like, bang, quick jam. Easy, you have it under control.
“It must have stopped and I tried to stop and my whole groin was like, ‘Snap, snap, snap, snap. Woah, woah. So, you’re trying to protect him, you’re kind of chasing him like, ‘Please don’t throw the ball at him.’ Our coach looks at me from the touchline as if to say: ‘Hey, do you want to come out?’ I’m like, ‘Yeah, but they’re in a hurry.’ I’m like rescuing.
RICHARD SHERMAN BEGINS AN INCOMPLETE CONFRONTATION WITH SEATTLE RADIO HOST DURING INTERVIEW
«At the time, I was like, ‘Yeah, this is probably my senior year. I don’t have it for these young guys right now.'»
Smith was playing when the Bucs and Eagles met on «Thursday Night Football» as he had a combined 199 yards in the previous two games. But, even though Sherman believed he couldn’t keep up with Smith, he only finished with two catches for 31 yards in that game on four targets.
The Bucs would also end up winning, 28-22.
Richard Sherman of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers walks off the field after being injured against the Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on October 14, 2021 in Philadelphia. (Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
However, as Sherman pointed out, injuries didn’t help his senior year. He dealt with the calf injury before an Achilles tendon injury ended his season.
Sherman played just five games with the Bucs, though he had one interception and one fumble recovery in that span.
However, Sherman saw what Smith was bringing to the NFL, as the Alabama product had a breakout sophomore season last year with 1,196 yards and seven touchdowns on 95 receptions from quarterback Jalen Hurts.
Richard Sherman of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers looks up at the bench before the Eagles game at Lincoln Financial Field on October 14, 2021 in Philadelphia. (Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
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Meanwhile, Sherman turned his career into sports media.