One of the best cornerbacks to ever play in the league got quite the reality check back in 2021. It's one reason Richard Sherman chose to retire.
He has quite the NFL resume for a player that slipped to the fifth round of the 2011 NFL Draft. Defensive back Richard Sherman from Stanford University was the 154th overall pick by the Seattle Seahawks that year.
He would go on to be a pivotal part of a defensive unit that earned legendary status. Sherman was one standout of a secondary that earned the nom de guerre of "The Legion of Doom." Pete Carroll's club allowed the fewest points in the league four consecutive years from 2012-15.
Sherman earned five invitations to the Pro Bowl and was named All-Pro three times. His final season in the league was in 2021 as a member of the Buccaneers. He played in only five games for the team that season and finished with 11 stops, one interception and one fumble recovery. There was a Week 6 Thursday night clash with the Eagles at Philadelphia. Tampa Bay would hold on for a 28-22 win.
Recently, Sherman spoke about that contest on The Richard Sherman Podcast as he had current Eagles' right tackle Lane Johnson on as a guest. Speaking of Eagles, the discussion turned to a rookie receiver that year named Devonta Smith.
DeVonta Smith made Richard Sherman realize his career was over
"DeVonta must've run this comeback (route). I had him under control, I was like, bam, quick jam, easy, had him under control. He must've stopped and I tried to stop and my whole groin said, 'Snap, snap, snap, snap,' and I said, 'Whoa, whoa,'" Sherman said, H/T Ed Kracz of SI.com.
"Then you're trying to guard and chasing him around and you're like please don't throw him the ball, please. My coach is looking at me on the sideline like, 'Hey, you wanna come out, you wanna come out?'
"I'm like, 'Yeah, but they're in a hurry-up,' so I'm like bailing out. At that moment I was like yeah, this is probably my last year. I don't got it for these young dudes right here."
Sherman would appear in only two more games that season. Hence the end of a brilliant career that will likely end with a bust in Canton, Ohio.
There was a steady debate regarding Sherman and Darrelle Revis, the latter who will be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in August, as to who was the best cover cornerback in the league.
The former finished his 11-year NFL career (with the Seahawks, 49ers and Buccaneers) with 37 interceptions and four more picks in the postseason. He won a Lombardi Trophy with Seattle in 2013 (XLVIII) and also appeared in two other Super Bowls with the Seahawks (XXXIX) and Niners (LIV).