Former 49ers CB Richard Sherman reveals the player who convinced him to (unofficially) retire

Richard Sherman was nearing the end of his career when he left the 49ers after the 2020 season, and now, he mentioned the player who made it an easy decision to retire.

Technically, cornerback Richard Sherman isn't retired from being an active football player. He remains an unsigned free agent, but in all reality, his playing days are behind him.

Sherman, once the bane of existence for every San Francisco 49ers fan during his days with the Seattle Seahawks, then became a Niners fan-favorite after his defection to the red and gold in 2018.

Even though Sherman made one more Pro Bowl during his three-year tenure with San Francisco, it was clear his best playing days were behind him. Following an injury-plagued 2020 campaign in which plenty of injuries dogged the 49ers, Sherman wasn't re-signed and headed into 2021 as a free agent once more.

Ultimately, Sherman signed on with another injury-riddled team that season, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, with whom he played in five games before groin and hamstring injuries took their toll.

In all, Sherman appeared in just five games for the Bucs that lone 2021 season.

Since then, Sherman hasn't been signed and even joined Amazon Prime in their broadcasts of Thursday Night Football, although he admitted he wasn't quite retiring just yet and would be open to signing if the right opportunity presented itself.

However, we might know why Sherman wasn't thinking that would be a reality.

Richard Sherman says Eagles WR DeVonta Smith convinced him 2021 was 'my last year'

Sherman was speaking with Philadelphia Eagles left tackle Lane Johnson on his The Richard Sherman Podcast, and the two were talking about how athletes took care of their bodies.

As transcribed by NFL.com, Sherman revealed the one player and play that effectively convinced him that his pro career was going to end awfully soon.

It was Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith, who apparently put Sherman in an injury-risking blender, and Sherman described what happened:

"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.

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.""

Read more: Niner Noise exclusive interview with cornerback Richard Sherman

Sherman had just one tackle on six defensive snaps during that game against Philly, and he ended up missing the following six contests because of those injuries.

Tampa Bay elected not to re-sign Sherman the following offseason, and it sounds like Smith played a big enough role in convincing Sherman not to aggressively pursue new employment with another team out there anyway.

That said, and despite his earlier Seahawks days, Sherm still remains a valued part of 49ers lore.

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