"I look forward to coming back better than ever, and I have a lot of things to show a few people," new San Francisco 49ers cornerback Richard Sherman told reporters during an introductory press conference on Tuesday.
Sherman, who spent his first seven seasons with the division-rival Seattle Seahawks, shocked the NFL by signing with the 49ers on March 10. Seattle had parted ways with the All-Pro cornerback just a day earlier.
"It was obviously tough to leave what you know and what we had," Sherman said. "But things happen, and you've got to move on. I'm thankful for everything that I had in Seattle, and what those fans brought, and what my teammates brought. But I'm looking forward to moving on to a new chapter and helping this team win ball games.
"Obviously, the things they did at the end of the season, the last five games, were unbelievable. We hope to repeat that success in the upcoming year. Jimmy (Garoppolo) is a tremendous asset for this team, and he played outstanding football, but there are a lot of young guys who I expect to have a leap from last year to this year. And I'm looking forward to the challenge of growing with another group of men and bringing them back to the top."
The 49ers were the first team to reach out to Sherman, and he had dinner with head coach Kyle Shanahan just hours after being released by Seattle. Deep respect for Shanahan, general manager John Lynch, and the new 49ers regime convinced Sherman that San Francisco was the perfect fit for him.
"They brought stability to this organization," Sherman said. "They brought fun. They brought belief. They brought faith. The players believe they can win. The players believe in the staff. Everybody that I've spoken to speaks very highly about everybody in the staff.
"Kyle is obviously innovative offensively. I've had a ton of respect for the way he calls the game for a long time. We've played him since -- I want to say my sophomore -- rookie year, actually, when he was with Washington. He always gives us issues with plays that we've never seen, routes that we've never seen, concepts, and then the rest of the league piggybacks on what he has."
"I really appreciate his offensive approach," Sherman continued. "And defensively, with Robert Saleh, it's a familiarity there. I've done well in this scheme. I've played well in this scheme. I know it like the back of my hand, the front of my hand."
Sherman has registered 367 combined tackles, 32 interceptions, 99 passes defensed, a sack, and five forced fumbles in seven seasons with Seattle. He has also been selected to four Pro Bowls and is a three-time first-team All-Pro.
Sherman said Lynch and Shanahan didn't have to do much convincing to persuade him that the 49ers were the right place for him.
"I wouldn't have taken the visit first if I didn't feel comfortable with what they offered as a team, their chances at competing and winning in this football league," Sherman said. "Obviously, I've been a part of a lot of winning teams, and I know what it takes, and I know the formula, and I think they have it here."