Richard Sherman has been one of the best cornerbacks in recent memory, making the Pro Bowl five times over his 11-year career.
He is best well known for his time with the Seattle Seahawks, where he was one of the staples of the vaunted “Legion of Boom” defense.
Despite his accolades over his career, Sherman seems to have lost a step in the past few years, starting only five games with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last season. (He’s seen above with them ahead of their Jan. 23 playoff game against the Los Angeles Rams.)
He now sits in free agency and at this point, the rest of his NFL career is clearly in question. And reports Monday suggest Sherman is preparing for life after football.
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Sherman is in talks with Amazon for a key role in their Thursday Night Football programming this coming season.
Sources: All-Pro CB Richard Sherman is deep in talks with Amazon for a key role in their programming this coming season. He’ll stay in shape for a possible NFL opportunity, but as of now, all eyes on his broadcasting future.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) May 9, 2022
This isn’t necessarily Sherman calling his playing career over, though. Rapoport notes that he plans to stay in shape for a possible NFL opportunity should it present itself in the coming months. And some players have come out of the broadcast booth to return to the gridiron in the past.
Sherman may be the latest following the trend of former players turning to sports media following their playing career. He’s already dipped his toes into the media world, including appearing on Bleacher Report’s draft show this year. And Amazon might be an interesting place for him, with them already bringing in a couple of other prominent defensive players in Malcolm Jenkins and Aqib Talib. The NFL world certainly is looking forward to what he could provide with his analysis.
I 👀 @RSherman_25
— Cam Heyward (@CamHeyward) May 9, 2022
Richard Sherman in the booth could be very very awesome. https://t.co/XgqETSFzPs
— Kris Burke (@KrisBurke) May 9, 2022
Richard Sherman would be a superb broadcaster. https://t.co/dNgneB7Y6f
— Nick Sabato (@NickSabatoGNN) May 9, 2022
👏👏 @RSherman_25
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) May 9, 2022
Sherman has always been one of the most intriguing personalities in the NFL since he came into the league in 2011. And joining the Amazon team in their first year of full-time NFL coverage could certainly be a very interesting selling point for NFL fans to watch their product.
It’s not unusual to see a player leave open the possibility of returning to the NFL while pursuing a venture into the media world. We have seen the likes of Robert Griffin III do a similar thing, waiting for a potential return to the league while not exactly banking on that either while pursuing television opportunities.
It is not official just yet, but the idea of Sherman breaking down the NFL for Amazon on Thursdays certainly has many excited should it come to fruition.
[Ian Rapoport; photo from Matt Pendleton/USA Today Sports]
