Richard Sherman shares when he knew 2021 was his final year

It didn’t take long for Richard Sherman to figure out his NFL career was over following the 2021 season — his first and only with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

In his third game with Tampa Bay, which took place in Week 6 against the Philadelphia Eagles, the three-time All-Pro cornerback was tasked with shadowing rookie wideout DeVonta Smith. It didn’t go well for Sherman, who told Eagles offensive tackle Lane Johnson on a recent episode of his podcast that a specific play in the game resulted in him questioning his football immortality.

“DeVonta must have ran this comeback, and I had him under control, you know what I mean? I was like, ‘Bang, quick jam, easy, got him under control.’ He must have stopped, and I tried to stop. My whole groin says, ‘Snap, snap, snap, snap.’ I said, ‘Oh, whoa. Whoa.’ And then you’re trying to guard him, you’re like chasing him around, like please don’t throw him the ball,” Sherman said, via NFL.com. “Our coach was looking at me on the sidelines, like, ‘You want to come out? You want to come out?’

“I was 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 now.'”

Richard Sherman could be a candidate for Canton once eligible

Sherman, 35, missed the next six games after the matchup with Smith due to injury. He suited up in just two more games for the Buccaneers before becoming a free agent after the season. Though he’s yet to officially announce his retirement, it doesn’t appear likely they’ll be one more swan song for Sherman.

Sherman, however, will garner Pro Football Hall of Fame consideration on the back of his time with the Seattle Seahawks (2011-17) and San Francisco 49ers (2018-20). He suited up in 144 games throughout his career, earning five Pro Bowl and three All-Pro selections, a slot on the HOF All-2010s Team, 495 tackles, 116 passes defensed and 37 interceptions.

Sherman will first be eligible in 2027 alongside shoo-ins Rob Gronkowski, Adrian Peterson and Ben Roethlisberger.