In 2018, Joe Staley wasn't sure what to make of the news that his San Francisco 49ers had just signed hated rival Richard Sherman. The now-retired offensive tackle even shared what his first conversation with the former Seattle Seahawks cornerback was like that summer.
"I told him this to his face; he's the exact opposite of what -- I thought I was going to hate him because I hated him when he was in Seattle," Staley said in 2018. "He was just one of those guys that kind of got under your skin. I think that's what makes him such a great teammate is his ability to rattle the opponent. You're not going to be upset with a guy that's doing his job at the highest level, and he's been able to do that for years."
Sherman joined KNBR on Wednesday morning and shared what that first meeting was like from his perspective.
"We've had our back-and-forths over the years," Sherman said on the Murph and Mac show. "Obviously, it's competitive. This is football. And so once I got into the locker room as a Forty-Niner, his locker was literally across the way from mine, like on the corner. ... And he came up to me, he's like, 'I used to hate you.' You know how straight-forward Joe is.
"It was funny because I think he had a different impression of who I was, and as he got to know me, he realized, 'You're just a super-competitive dude who just wants to do anything to get under people's skin. But when I'm on your team, you're fantastic to be around.'
"He was one of the best teammates I ever had. I enjoyed being around him. I enjoyed his demeanor, his leadership, his conversation. It's sad that you lose a guy, and he deserves the right to retire on his own terms, and it's just unfortunate.
"Obviously, he's had a long and wonderful career, and I'm just happy that he's walking away as healthy as he is. That's going to be a huge loss for us. He's just an incredible human being, incredibly infectious energy, a great knowledge of the game, and he just knows what people need. He knows how to lead men."
Staley, a six-time Pro Bowl selection, will be replaced by seven-time Pro Bowl tackle Trent Williams. There was a little news surrounding a post-game skirmish in 2013 between Sherman and Williams. The two have moved past it, though, and become friends.
"People don't know this, but me and Sherm, we talked that night after the incident," Williams told reporters last week. "We kind of buried the hatchet then. We've, since then, built a good relationship over the past seven years."
During Wednesday's interview, Sherman offered his perspective on that incident.
"Me and Trent squashed that literally the day it happened," Sherman shared. "He reached out and apologized. We got on the bus from the game to head back to the airport. He had gotten my number from his agent, and he reached out, apologized."
Sherman understood that emotions sometimes take over during games, and accepted Williams' apology. The two have been close since and even hang out together during offseasons.
The perception that the two are rivals couldn't be further from the truth. In fact, Williams had discussions with Sherman about the 49ers as the trade to make them teammates was developing.
"I honestly was talking to him this entire process," Sherman explained, "when they were trying to make the trade happen. He's been in great shape. He's excited. He asked me about the team, places to stay, and I think it's a fantastic fit, a fantastic opportunity for him. ... This is a scheme that he was drafted into (when 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan was the offensive coordinator in Washington) and that he thrived in. It will be a hand-in-glove fit."
You can listen to the entire conversation with Sherman below.