Several teams reached out to Richard Sherman as soon as news broke that the Seattle Seahawks released the veteran cornerback. The San Francisco 49ers, of course, were first, so that was Sherman's first stop as he explored free agency for the first time in his career.
That was also his only stop.
Sherman never left Santa Clara and signed a three-year deal with the 49ers.
One of the other teams to reach out was the Detroit Lions. Sherman didn't really explore that situation too much, feeling San Francisco was a good fit for him.
"It was definitely a conversation," Sherman told reporters on Tuesday when asked about the Lions' interest. "They were probably the second team to reach out after the 49ers did. But it was just a much better fit with the 49ers, and that's what ultimately came into the decision.
"They gave me a chance at a higher ceiling in terms of the money I could make if I hit certain incentives, and also gave me a similar system, similar culture, similar makeup to what I was accustomed to."
Two seasons later, Sherman is headed to his third Super Bowl and has a chance to earn his second championship ring. He and his 49ers will face the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIV on Sunday.