SEATTLE — Former Seattle Seahawks star cornerback Richard Sherman has been officially charged with driving under the influence (DUI), following his February 2024 arrest in Renton, Washington. The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office filed the gross misdemeanor charge Tuesday, one day after receiving blood test results from the Washington State Patrol (WSP) Crime Lab confirming Sherman had a blood alcohol level of approximately 0.11 — above the legal limit of 0.08 in Washington state.
Sherman, 37, is scheduled to be arraigned on June 30.
The arrest occurred shortly before 2 a.m. on February 24, when a WSP officer pulled over Sherman’s Tesla after clocking it at 79 mph in a 60 mph zone. The officer also observed the vehicle veering within its lane on Interstate 405. Reports indicated that Sherman exhibited signs of impairment at the scene, including bloodshot eyes and the smell of alcohol on his breath. He refused a breathalyzer test both at the scene and later at a WSP office, which led to a warrant for a blood draw at a local hospital.
The DUI charge carries an enhancement for Sherman’s refusal to take the breath test — a factor that can influence sentencing if convicted.
Sherman’s legal history includes a 2022 plea deal related to a separate 2021 incident, where he pled guilty to first-degree negligent driving and second-degree criminal trespass after reportedly driving into a closed construction site and attempting to forcibly enter his in-laws’ home.
The five-time Pro Bowler was a cornerstone of Seattle’s legendary “Legion of Boom” secondary that anchored the franchise’s Super Bowl XLVIII championship. Sherman spent 11 seasons in the NFL, most notably with the Seahawks and later the San Francisco 49ers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He transitioned into broadcasting in 2022, joining Amazon Prime Video’s Thursday Night Football team.
Adding to a turbulent year, Sherman was recently identified as one of the victims in a series of high-profile burglaries targeting current and former athletes in the Seattle area. Charges were filed earlier this month against a man suspected in the string of break-ins, including one at Sherman’s residence.
The DUI case now becomes the latest chapter in a complicated post-playing career for one of the most accomplished defensive backs of his generation.
