Richard Sherman has found a new NFL home and a former rival apparently played a major role in his recruitment.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers announced they signed Sherman to a contract on Wednesday (September 29) in a news release shared on their official website, as well as a video showing the Pro Bowl cornerback singing his contract shared on their verified Twitter account.
ESPN's Adam Schefter reports Sherman and the Bucs agreed to a one-year contract, a source confirmed.
Sherman confirmed he had been in discussions with the Bucs for several weeks and the reigning Super Bowl champions provided "the best offer" among multiple teams -- including his previous teams, the San Francisco 49ers (2018-20) and Seattle Seahawks (2011-2017), as well as the Carolina Panthers -- during a recent episode of the Richard Sherman Podcast.
Sherman also confirmed Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady played a major role in his recruitment.
"He's the all-time great quarterback reaching out, and anytime he makes that call, it's a very difficult opportunity to pass up," Sherman said.
NFL Network's Mike Garafolo reported Brady was making a strong attempt to recruit Sherman to Tampa Bay prior to his contract agreement on Wednesday.
“[Brady] has been speaking directly to Richard Sherman, trying to recruit him to Tampa,” Garafolo said, jokingly referring to Brady as the Bucs' assistant GM. “I had mentioned that to somebody, and they said, ‘Yeah, but does [defensive coordinator] Todd Bowles want him? Does [head coach] Bruce Arians want him?’ Bruce Arians didn’t want [then-free agent wide receiver] Antonio Brown [last season]. Tom Brady wanted Antonio Brown. Antonio Brown wound up in Tampa Bay. So it doesn’t even matter to me what the coaches want on this one if Brady himself is focused on bringing Sherman in there. So these two, who have been acquaintances, I would say, since Sherman got in his face many, many years ago when he was a young player for the Seattle Seahawks, now could be joining forces in Tampa Bay. Much of that, Brady himself doing.”
Sherman -- then a member of the Seahawks - famously approached Brady -- then with the Patriots -- after a victory in 2012 and shouted in the multi-time Super Bowl champion's face, later posting a "U Mad Bro?" meme onTwitter.
He was, however, the first person to congratulate Brady after the Patriots defeated the Seahawks in Super Bowl XLIX.
Sherman provides a veteran presence to one of the NFL's youngest defensive backfields, which has already lost starting cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting due to a dislocated right elbow injury.
The five-time Pro Bowler was arrested in connection to a situation at the home of his wife's parents in Redmond, Washington during the offseason, but reportedly won't face a suspension by the NFL.
Sherman was charged with five misdemeanors, including two counts of domestic violence, criminal trespass in the second degree, malicious mischief in the third degree, driving while under the influence, reckless endangerment of roadway workers, and resisting arrest, but has pleaded not guilty to all charges, adding that he was "deeply remorseful" for his actions and "behaved in a manner I'm not proud of," in a statement shared on his Twitter account.
ESPN's Jenna Laine reports the Bucs said they did their due diligence in analyzing Sherman's legal situation before signing him
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