Thursday night NFL broadcasts just got more interesting: Richard Sherman will be on them
Thursday night NFL games just got a whole lot more interesting — and potentially uniquely entertaining.
Amazon announced its new broadcasts of Thursday night games during the 2022 season will include Richard Sherman as a commentator. The former Seahawks Super Bowl-winning and All-Pro cornerback will be on pregame, halftime and postgame shows, Amazon announced Tuesday.
Sherman’s former Seahawks have one Thursday night game Sherman will commentate on in 2022: against his former San Francisco 49ers on Dec. 15 at Lumen Field. You don’t have to pay Jeff Bezos to watch Sherman and the game that night. The week 15 showcase game also will be shown on over-the-air stations in Seattle and San Francisco, per the league’s contract with Amazon.
Sherman is sure to have a few things to say on Thursday, Oct. 6, as well. That’s when Russell Wilson and his Denver Broncos host the Indianapolis Colts, also on Amazon Prime Video.
Sherman often jawed with Wilson on the Seahawks’ practice field in their primes with Seattle.
In February, on his podcast he produced with Pro Football Focus, Sherman said this about the popular idea the Seahawks should “Let Russ Cook” — throw the ball more.
“You have not been anywhere close to a Super Bowl letting Russ cook,” Sherman said in February on his podcast. “You will not be anywhere close to a Super Bowl letting him throw 30-40 times a game, because not only are you stopping the clock, so your defense, your time of possession, your propensity to turn the ball over is going to increase.”
The Seahawks traded Wilson to the Broncos a month later.
Amazon won the right to broadcast Thursday night games during the 2022 season. That’s part of the league’s new $100 billion media-rights contracts. Amazon Prime Video’s game announcers for Thursday night are Al Michaels and Kirk Herbstreit.
“We’re excited to welcome Richard right off the field and onto our Thursday Night Football set,” said Amazon Prime Video director of global live sports production Jared Stacy in a statement from the company. “Few people are better equipped to give insight into the modern NFL than Richard. Fans will love seeing his big personality and brilliant football mind on display every Thursday night on Prime Video.”
Seattle first
The Seahawks and coach Pete Carroll drafted Sherman out of Stanford in 2011. He played for the Seahawks through the 2017 season.
He was a charter member of the team’s famed “Legion of Boom” secondary and top-ranked defense. He and the Seahawks earned the franchise’s only Super Bowl win and played in a second Super Bowl. Sherman was elected All-Pro all three times in his career and was named to four of five career Pro Bowls while with Seattle.
The Seahawks released Sherman in the spring of 2018 to save his non-guaranteed $11 million salary for the ‘18 season. That was after he tore his Achilles tendon in a game at Arizona the previous November.
Sherman signed with San Francisco hours after the Seahawks officially waived him. He was with the 49ers from 2018-20. He played in another Super Bowl with San Francisco at the end of the 2019 season. That was the season he returned from injuries to make his fifth Pro Bowl.
He signed with Tampa Bay one month into the 2021 season. He started three games for the Buccaneers last season.
He played in only 10 of a possible 33 regular-season games his last two years in the league.
Will he play again?
Sherman told the league’s media outlet Tuesday he will continue training, in case another NFL calls him during the 2022 season.
“No, no, I’m still leaving that door open as long as I can,” Sherman told NFL Network Tuesday. “I’m obviously going to keep training and staying in shape, but gotta take the opportunities when they’re there, and this is an amazing opportunity with Amazon, so I couldn’t pass it up.
“But I’m going to leave that door open, if somebody wants to call late December, and needs some help, I’m happy to help.”
Carroll said last year he has stayed in regular contact with Sherman since he last played for the Seahawks almost five full years ago. But Carroll has downplayed rumors Seattle may become interested in Sherman playing for the team again.
The Seahawks the last year and a half have drafted three cornerbacks: Tre Brown last year and Coby Bryant and Tariq Woolen this spring. All three have impressed. Brown was starting last season until knee surgery. He could be starting again this season upon his return. The team expects that soon after training camp begins at the end of July.
This past March Sherman pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor charges and a traffic violation and received a suspended sentence from a King County judge. He received no additional jail time. That was after his arrest and brief jailing last summer for driving under the influence, speeding through a freeway construction area then disturbing his in-laws at their residence in Redmond.
This story was originally published June 15, 2022 at 5:50 AM.
