Richard Sherman is a cornerback who has been in the NFL for 10 years.
He played 7 years with the Seattle Seahawks and 3 years with the San Francisco 49ers.
At 32 years of age, he is a free agent, but he likely has several years of playing time ahead.
#49ers Free Agent CB Richard Sherman expected to be targeted by #Jets #Raiders #Browns #NFL pic.twitter.com/pDUEGfiznt
— NFL Rumors and Updates (@nflrums) January 28, 2021
It’s never too early to look at his chance of being enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame when he does call it a career.
As it stands right now, Richard Sherman is not a Hall of Famer.
And here is why.
1. What Has He Done Lately?
When is the last time the average football viewer saw or heard anything significant about Richard Sherman?
It is when he was playing with the Seattle Seahawks as part of the “Legion of Boom”.
He hasn’t been with the Seahawks since 2017.
Sherman spent the last three seasons with the San Francisco 49ers.
Despite having a long career, his best years were early on.
To be a Hall of Famer, a long consistent career is required.
2. How Many Championships Has He Won?
That Seahawks team only won 1 Super Bowl.
It was loaded with talent so it should have won more.
You could argue that the second championship was definitely within reach, but Coach Pete Carroll’s inexplicable play call cost them it.
The Legion of Boom and Sherman were a force to reckon with but only for a short time.
3. Are His Career Stats Good Enough?
They are impressive but not enough.
Again, he is within reach of the Hall of Fame but not as a first ballot candidate.
He needs to play longer, log more stats, and win a championship.
In the meantime, Sherman’s career stats are:
- 139 career games
- 36 interceptions
- 3 interceptions returned for touchdowns
- 374 solo tackles
The 2013 season was his best statistically; he had 8 interceptions which led the league.
He also was a First-Team All Pro, a Pro Bowler, and a Super Bowl Champion.
Sherman did find a way to shine in the playoffs.
In 15 playoff games over his career (with Seattle and San Francisco), he had 4 interceptions.
Honestly, Richard Sherman’s outspoken personality often overshadows what he accomplishes on the field.
Richard Shermans biggest moment as a #Seahawks legend:
"WHEN YOU TRY ME WITH A SORRY RECEIVER LIKE CRABTREE, THAT'S THE RESULT YOU GONNA GET!" pic.twitter.com/kpTtsTWLx8
— Sports ON Tap Seattle (@SONTSeattle) January 25, 2021
When Richard Sherman’s 49ers traveled to Seattle to take on his former team in 2018, Pete Carroll spoke at length about his former player.
Regarding Sherman’s personality he said:
“He was a challenge, yeah. He was a challenge like many of our guys have been. It was a challenge in being really willing to work with somebody and see the beautiful aspects of this individual. He’s an amazing person and I had great respect for him. So I was challenged because he’s brilliant and he had a lot of thoughts and this tremendous competitiveness about him that took him places that other athletes don’t get to. Every bit of it was worth it. Every bit of it was worth it.”
About Sherman’s legacy in Seattle, Carroll said:
NEXT: The 3 Biggest Draft Needs For The San Francisco 49ers“Consistently playing great football. He did it over a long period of time…”I think he’s loved around here for all the great stuff that he did. I don’t think our fans think any differently than I do about that.”