Although he was drafted in the fifth round of the 2011 NFL Draft, No. 154 overall, those numbers don’t begin to explain the impact that Richard Sherman had on the Seattle Seahawks. Sherman played seven seasons in Seattle, establishing himself as one of the all-time Seahawks’ greats. Coming from Stanford, he wasted no time making a name for himself as he started 10 games as rookie and picked off four passes.
He followed up a stellar rookie season with a run of four consecutive seasons being named an AP All-Pro and becoming an original member of one of the most iconic secondaries of all time, The Legion of Boom.
“You cannot talk about the greats in Seahawks history without talking about Richard Sherman,” fellow teammate Doug Baldwin said.
Sherman had two consecutive seasons of recording eight interceptions including a league high during the 2013 season where the Seahawks won their first Super Bowl in franchise history.
Baldwin added, “Obviously one of the most important elements of the Legion of Boom, one of the most vocal leaders on the backend of the defense. Richard Sherman has been an incredible friend since I met him back in 2007, even then he had the confidence and the know it all to put himself at the echelon of his sport in his position.”
Sherman also cemented himself in Seattle sports history with arguably the most iconic Seahawks play, tipping a pass intended for 49ers receiver Michael Crabtree during the 2013 NFC Championship game. The ball was intercepted by Malcolm Smith and the play is now forever known as “The Tip.”
“He was a guy that would talk a lot but then be able to go back it up on the field,” Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times said.
He ended his Seahawk career with 368 tackles, 32 interceptions, 99 passes defensed and five forced fumbles. His dominant play in Seattle earned him four Pro-Bowl bids, four All-Pro nominations and a spot on the NFL All-Decade Team for the 2010s.