Richard Sherman has been one of the best defensive backs in the entire NFL throughout his career with the Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers. His future is unclear, though, as he is in the final year of his contract. However, although Sherman doesn’t know where he will play next season and beyond, he already has a future set up as team owner of a professional football team.

Richard Sherman has been an excellent defensive back in the NFL

The Seattle Seahawks selected Richard Sherman in the fifth round of the 2011 NFL draft. He ended up becoming a steal for the Seahawks, too.

After having a nice rookie season where he recorded 55 total tackles and four interceptions, Sherman was a First-Team All-Pro in 2012. He ultimately recorded 65 total tackles, eight interceptions, and he led the NFL with 24 passes defended. Sherman followed that up with another good year in 2013, too, as he earned First-Team All-Pro honors again, as well as Pro Bowl honors. He recorded 48 total tackles and led the NFL with eight interceptions. The Seahawks were great in 2013, too, as they won a Super Bowl. 

For the third consecutive season in 2014, Sherman, again, earned First-Team All-Pro honors. He recorded 57 total tackles that season and had four interceptions. He also helped lead the Seahawks back to the Super Bowl and had two interceptions in the postseason. Seattle lost to the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl, though.

Sherman earned two more Pro Bowl selections in 2015 and 2016 with the Seahawks. However, in 2018 he joined the Seahawks’ division rival, the San Francisco 49ers. While he played decent in 2018, Sherman had another great year in 2019. He recorded 61 total tackles — his most since 2012 — and picked off three passes, his most since 2016. Sherman earned a Pro Bowl selection that season and helped the 49ers get to the Super Bowl, as he had two interceptions in the postseason.

During the 2020 season, though, Sherman has dealt with a calf injury and has only played in four games. He has 16 total tackles and one interception in those games.

His future with the San Francisco 49ers is up in the air

Sherman is in the final year of his contract, and his future with the 49ers is up in the air. In fact, Sherman, who represents himself when negotiating contracts, doesn’t seem too optimistic about returning to San Francisco.

“If there’s some miracle that happens, then sure there’s an opening,” Sherman said, according to ESPN. “But there’s 40 free agents and they’ll probably have $30 million or less in cap and they have got to bring back Trent [Williams], who costs over $20 million. They have to pay Fred [Warner], who costs $18 million-plus a year. So anybody who knows the situation understands that.”

It appears, though, that 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan wants to keep him.

“Sherm’s a guy that I know personally, and I know [general manager] John [Lynch] feels the same [that] we want on our team at all times,” Shanahan said, according to ESPN. “Sherm’s a guy that, when he does get older and he does descend, he’s such a good football player, he finds a way. I understand his contract issue this year. I understand there’s a number of guys on our team with that this year, but whoever can help us win football games, our guys are trying to figure out how to bring [them] back, especially guys who do it the right way.”

While his playing future is unclear, Sherman already has a future as a team owner.

Richard Sherman has made enough money to own a pro football team

No matter how much money Sherman makes on his next contract, he has already made enough money to own a professional football team.

According to Spotrac, Sherman has made an estimated $82.7 million in his career. This does not count any endorsements and off-field business ventures that he has also taken on. Because of all the money he has made, Sherman has an estimated $40 million net worth, according to Celebrity Net Worth, which has helped him become an owner of a professional football team.

Sherman is a team owner in the Fan Controlled Football league. He actually co-owns a team called the Glacier Boyz with rapper Quavo and YouTuber Deestroying, according to the league’s official site.

According to The Washington Post, the Fan Controlled Football league is a 7-on-7, arena-style football league. However, what makes it really interesting is that fans choose the teams’ nicknames and coaches. They also draft players and call plays. In fact, before Sherman’s Glacier Boyz had a team name, he was campaigning for fans to help pick the name on Twitter.

In addition to Sherman, Marshawn Lynch and Mike Tyson also own a team.

Sherman’s playing future might be unclear right now, but it will be interesting to see what he can do as a team owner.

Stats courtesy of Pro Football Reference