Richard Sherman

Richard Sherman became a free agent in March of 2021.

Golden Nuggets

• Was the 49ers 2019 Garry Niver Award winner, presented annually by the San Francisco Chapter of the Pro Football Writers of America to a 49ers player for his cooperation and professionalism in helping the pro football writers do their jobs.
• Named the 49ers representative for the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award in 2019, which recognizes an NFL player for his excellence on and off the field.
• In addition to finding success on the football field, Sherman has consistently excelled in the classroom. He became the first Dominguez HS student in 20 years to earn a scholarship from Stanford University after finishing high school with a 4.2 GPA. At Stanford, Sherman carried a 3.7 GPA and graduated with a degree in communications.
• Sherman also proved himself as a standout track & field athlete. In high school, he earned All-America honors from USA Today in the triple jump with a school and league-record jump of 50 feet, 8 inches. He later earned a spot on the Stanford track & field team and competed as a freshman, placing fifth in the triple jump at the Pac-10 Championships.

Awards & Honors

• 2011: PFWA All-Rookie Team
• 2012: AP All-Pro First Team, PFWA First-Team All-Pro, The Sporting News First-Team All-Pro, NFC Defensive Player of the Week (Week 10)
• 2013: NFC Pro Bowl, AP All-Pro First Team, PFWA FirstTeam All-Pro, The Sporting News First-Team AllPro, Two-time NFC Defensive Player of the Week (Weeks 2 and 15)
• 2014: NFC Pro Bowl, AP First-Team All-Pro, PFWA FirstTeam All-Pro, The Sporting News First-Team AllPro, NFC Defensive Player of the Week (Week 13)
• 2015: NFC Pro Bowl, AP Second-Team All-Pro, PFWA's Good Guy Award
• 2016: NFC Pro Bowl
• 2018: Ed Block Courage Award
• 2019: 49ers Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Nominee, AP Second-Team All-Pro, PFWA All-NFC, NFC Pro Bowl, Garry Niver Award, NFLPA Community MVP (Week 11)

Richard Sherman became a free agent in March of 2021.

Golden Nuggets

• Was the 49ers 2019 Garry Niver Award winner, presented annually by the San Francisco Chapter of the Pro Football Writers of America to a 49ers player for his cooperation and professionalism in helping the pro football writers do their jobs.
• Named the 49ers representative for the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award in 2019, which recognizes an NFL player for his excellence on and off the field.
• In addition to finding success on the football field, Sherman has consistently excelled in the classroom. He became the first Dominguez HS student in 20 years to earn a scholarship from Stanford University after finishing high school with a 4.2 GPA. At Stanford, Sherman carried a 3.7 GPA and graduated with a degree in communications.
• Sherman also proved himself as a standout track & field athlete. In high school, he earned All-America honors from USA Today in the triple jump with a school and league-record jump of 50 feet, 8 inches. He later earned a spot on the Stanford track & field team and competed as a freshman, placing fifth in the triple jump at the Pac-10 Championships.

Awards & Honors

• 2011: PFWA All-Rookie Team
• 2012: AP All-Pro First Team, PFWA First-Team All-Pro, The Sporting News First-Team All-Pro, NFC Defensive Player of the Week (Week 10)
• 2013: NFC Pro Bowl, AP All-Pro First Team, PFWA FirstTeam All-Pro, The Sporting News First-Team AllPro, Two-time NFC Defensive Player of the Week (Weeks 2 and 15)
• 2014: NFC Pro Bowl, AP First-Team All-Pro, PFWA FirstTeam All-Pro, The Sporting News First-Team AllPro, NFC Defensive Player of the Week (Week 13)
• 2015: NFC Pro Bowl, AP Second-Team All-Pro, PFWA's Good Guy Award
• 2016: NFC Pro Bowl
• 2018: Ed Block Courage Award
• 2019: 49ers Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Nominee, AP Second-Team All-Pro, PFWA All-NFC, NFC Pro Bowl, Garry Niver Award, NFLPA Community MVP (Week 11)

Career Highlights

• Since entering the NFL in 2011, Sherman has registered 32 INTs and 103 PDs. His 32 INTs lead the league, and his 103 PDs rank 2nd among all active players.
• Finished the 2013 season with a league-leading 8 INTs. It marked the second-consecutive season Sherman recorded 8 INTs, and again ranked as the third-most by a member of the Seahawks in a single season. Capped off the season with a 43-8 victory over Denver in Super Bowl XLVIII.
• As a rookie with Seattle in 2011, his 4 INTs in just 10 starts tied for the second most by a rookie in franchise history.

Goldmine

• Throughout the 2019 season, Sherman and his wife would regularly visit Santa Clara Juvenile Hall and the couple quickly bonded with Unit 1B, who Sherman often acknowledged in postgame interviews before answering questions. During his regular visits, Sherman leads group conversations with the nearly 30 kids. "You get 24 hours in a day," Sherman says. "And I guarantee you that you all understand the importance of every minute of 24 hours right now. When you get free and can control your own destiny, take advantage of every minute and every second of the 24 hours. When you get it back, never give it back to anybody. Live your life to the fullest."
• Sherman, born and raised in Compton, CA, epitomizes the idea of a success story and was heavily influenced by his parents, Beverly and Kevin. Beverly works with disabled, inner-city children, while Kevin works as a garbage truck driver. Kevin's day begins at 3:45 a.m. and he continues to work, even after Richard found success in the NFL. "It forced my brother and me to understand priorities and family," Richard said. For Kevin, it was about showing his children the value of finishing what you start. "I always tell my kids to finish," Kevin said. "It's all about finishing what I started."
• Prior to Week 2's matchup in Cincinnati during the 2019 season, the 49ers spent time in Youngstown, OH, where they participated in the Community Blitz. Sherman and some of his teammates joined the students at Williamson Elementary School to talk about inclusion and anti-bullying. The players spoke at an assembly before helping the kids write cards and discuss how to be kind to one another.
• Sherman launched his own foundation, Blanket Coverage, in 2013. The foundation provides school supplies and clothing to students in low-income communities so they can more adequately achieve their goals. Sherman has hosted a variety of events with his foundation, including clothing drives, softball tournaments and trips to local schools. Sherman was influenced as a student at Dominguez HS after Magic Johnson gave an inspirational speech at his school, stressing the values of education. Information on Sherman's foundation can be found at https://www.richardsherman25.com.
• During the 2017 offseason, Sherman and his organization, Blanket Coverage, held their biggest backpack giveaway to date. Sherman's organization provided backpacks and free food on a first come, first serve basis to children in the Seattle area. Sherman and volunteers distributed backpacks, met with local families, took photos and participated in fun activities with the kids, which even included Sherman himself feeling the wrath of the dunk tank.
• After serving as the Seahawks team representative with the NFL Player's Association since 2014, Sherman was promoted to the organization's executive committee as vice president in 2016. The NFLPA serves as a union for professional football players and provides support for current and former players, while also enhancing their experiences in community-related organizations across the league.
• Since he was a child, Sherman has always thought about his future endeavors as a father, which became a reality with the birth of his son, Rayden, in February of 2015, and his daughter, Avery, in April of 2016. "I've thought about my kids since I was a kid. The greatest impact I could have on the world is raising good kids," Sherman said in a self-composed Players Tribune piece. "Football is something that I felt like I was born to do, and I was blessed with ability and the great fortune to be able to play it professionally, and I'm thankful for that and I take that very serious, and I want to be one of the best to ever do it. But in the end, being a great father, it's like the best thing you could ever be - to watch my son and daughter grow up to be incredible people and watch them make a greater impact on this world than I ever could.
• Sherman is one of five NFL players that holds a charitable partnership with Microsoft. In October of 2017, Sherman's organization was granted $25,000 from the company, which he intends to use by building a Microsoft Surface computer lap at Compton HS. Sherman, a Compton native, wants to utilize his partnership to prove to students in low-income areas that everyone has great potential, and with the power of proper technology and school supplies, students of all backgrounds have the ability to be successful in school and accomplish their goals.