Cornerback Richard Sherman joins the San Francisco 49ers. Just one day after his official release from the Seattle Seahawks, the multiple All-Pro has signed a three-year contract with his ex-club’s NFC West rival.
Sherman’s new deal will bring him 39 million dollars over the next three seasons. This includes a signing bonus of five million dollars. NFL insider Ian Rapoport was the first to announce the news late Saturday evening.
Sherman missed the end of last season with a torn Achilles tendon, but is said to be only a few months away from full recovery.
According to media reports, Sherman had already met with 49’s head coach Kyle Shanahan for dinner on Friday, before the real negotiations took place on Saturday. Sherman negotiated on his own, foregoing an agent.
Sherman himself was pleased with his new task:”I am excited. Many hall-of-fame-defensive backs have gone through this incredible organization and I’m looking forward to maintaining this standard,”he is quoted by Steve Wyche of the NFL Network via Twitter.
Sherman was a five-round pick from the University of Stanford in 2011 and since then has played 105 games for the Seahawks, in which he caught 32 exceptions and managed 286 tackles. He is considered one of the best corner backs of the decade, three times All-Pro and four times Pro Bowl. He also won with Seattle Super Bowl XLVIII against the Denver Broncos after the 2013 season.