The Richard Sherman Podcast (on The Herd with Colin Cowherd): San Francisco 49ers’ Upton Stout on His Rookie Season, Fred Warner’s Impact, and Matchups

Air Date: November 20, 2025
Guests: Upton Stout (49ers rookie cornerback)
Host: Richard Sherman

Overview

In this engaging episode, Richard Sherman sits down with San Francisco 49ers rookie cornerback Upton Stout for an honest, insightful conversation about life as an NFL rookie. They discuss Stout’s adjustment to the league, the influence of 49ers veterans like Fred Warner, the complexity of playing nickel cornerback, building secondary chemistry amidst injuries, and navigating tough wide receiver matchups. The episode provides a look behind the scenes into the mindset, preparation, and personal stories that define a young defensive back’s first year in the NFL.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Upton Stout’s Rookie Experience

• Mindset and Growth
  • Upton reflects on appreciating every opportunity this season and the difference in mindset compared to college.
  • "I'm feeling the strain on the season, but it ain't bad because I know every week brings a new opportunity... just being able to learn and grow each and every week." (03:55)
• Early Expectations vs. Reality
  • Stout was the talk of 49ers’ training camp, praised for his confidence and aggression.
  • Emphasizes the high standard set by joining a successful 49ers defense: "That's the 49er way... it's either that or you're gonna be watching the game." (04:53)
• The Influence of Veterans
  • Credits Demo (Deommodore Lenoir) and Fred Warner for shaping his routine and approach.
  • "With Fred... just the extra hours in the building... getting your mind ready. With Demo, it's the way he approaches every game and every rep." (05:51)

Coaching and Leadership

• Energy from Coaches
  • Talks about the infectious energy of defensive coaches, praising their consistency and influence: "He’s a... I wouldn’t say the Energizer Bunny, but whenever he’s around... he comes around, huge smile, bringing the energy." (06:35)
• Position Challenges: Playing Nickel
  • Sherman and Stout agree: nickel corner is one of the hardest jobs in football, especially for a rookie.
  • Recalls his recent forced fumble and the importance of moving on from mistakes: "It’s always the 'next play' mentality... I’m just trying to be on my P’s and Q’s." (07:31)
• Hunting for His First Interception
  • Despite close calls ("Jazz took my first one away"), Stout remains patient: "I know it's coming though... the ball gotta find you." (08:07, 08:27)

Building Chemistry Amid Injury and Turnover

• Staying Connected in a Young, Rotating Secondary
  • Stout reveals the defense’s trick: check egos, know roles, communicate, and come together on Sundays.
  • "There’s no egos in the DB room. Whatever your job is, that's your job. Let’s figure out how we can do it to the best ability." (09:14)
• Communication and Routine
  • Sherman describes how older secondaries built unspoken trust while stressing the need for constant vocal communication so “nobody's out there alone.”
  • "If we're silent out there, it doesn't work...if we all wrong, we all right—we live like that." (12:42–14:39)

Differences Between College and NFL

• Complexity and Speed
  • Stout describes how offense motions create much more mental processing at the NFL level, especially in Kyle Shanahan's offense.
  • "In college...we’d just bump, here it's like, hey, you better tell me if it's bump, bump, because the whole defense could change." (10:22)
• Learning from the Best
  • Talks about reaching out to K'Waun Williams for insight into playing nickel at a high level: "I was just trying to pick his brain... how he’d play this, how he fit the gap." (11:38)

Preparation and Accountability

• Walkthroughs, Film Study, and Practice
  • Sherman highlights the details and intensity of preparation: “How you do anything is how you do everything...take walkthroughs serious. We ain't giving up no passes in walkthrough." (17:30)
• Accountability & Standards
  • Encourages self-accountability before talking to others: "The finger has to start with you. It never can start at nobody else...” (15:57)
• Adjusting Routines
  • Both note that not everyone is a film guy; field reps and customization are valid (23:38).

Facing WR Matchups: Lessons and Realities

• Toughest Receivers So Far
  • Cooper Kupp (his first game), and Puka Nacua highlighted for their route running and alignment versatility.
  • On Kupp: "That was really my first time in real, like, game matching... sometimes he lines up in the slot, then at Z, then at running back... changes the technique." (25:03)
  • "He was all the shit that you used to see on YouTube. He hitting you the same shit...but coming at a different speed now." (26:13)
• Ownership for Mistakes
  • Stout notes that DBs usually blame their own technique more than being outplayed.
• Advice from Sherman
  • Trust preparation and eyes; don’t try to account for every possible route.
  • "It's hard enough playing DB with the stuff you got in front of you... Trust your indicators, trust your eyes, trust your preparation, play fast." (27:16)

Veteran Mindset and Advice

• Recognizing Patterns
  • Sherman demystifies play-calling: "Everybody runs the same stuff...by your third, fourth year, you gonna be like, 'Are they ever gonna change stuff?'" (20:31, 20:35)
• Communication Leading to Domination
  • Stout is proud of the defense’s improvement in communicating and predicting plays in their latest game.
  • "Off that last game... it was one of the most, we was just out there communicating... alert the stickers, alert the Darius specials, they done did it two plays in a row.” (28:32)
• Looking Ahead
  • Sherman urges Stout to relish Monday Night Football, keep preparing, and appreciate growth.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Influence of 49ers Veterans
  "As far as like with Fred, I just feel like when it comes to like, the body maintenance, like, just the extra hours... just getting your mind ready more than having your mental right before the physical part of it.”
  — Upton Stout (05:51)

• On Roster Fluidity
  “There’s no egos in the DB room. Whatever your job is, that’s your job.”
  — Upton Stout (09:14)

• On Accountability
  “The finger has to start with you. It never can start at nobody else because that ain't never how it's gonna work.”
  — Richard Sherman (15:57)

• On Route Recognition in the NFL
  “You can't guard every route, man... You guarding stuff they ain't even got in their playbook."
  — Richard Sherman (22:35, 22:37)

• On Facing Cooper Kupp
  “He was all the shit that you used to see on YouTube. He hitting you the same shit... but coming at a different speed now.”
  — Upton Stout (26:13)

• On Defensive Chemistry
  “If you see something, say something.... Let's not just go out there and play. Let's go out there and dominate our assignment.”
  — Upton Stout (28:32)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 03:24–05:51 — Upton Stout discusses his rookie experience and veteran influence
• 06:27–08:27 — Nickel position challenges, playmaking moments, and adjusting mentality
• 09:14–10:22 — Building chemistry and navigating a rotating secondary
• 11:38–12:10 — Learning from K'Waun Williams
• 14:39–17:53 — Communication, preparation, and walkthrough standards
• 19:01–22:04 — Film study vs. field reps, play recognition, and simplifying the game
• 25:03–26:42 — Toughest wide receivers and adapting to their styles
• 28:32–29:48 — Team communication and mindset after recent games
• 29:48–31:38 — Looking ahead to Monday Night Football, jersey swap banter

Tone and Style

The episode is candid, conversational, and full of practical wisdom — an experienced vet guiding an eager rookie. There’s playful banter (especially toward the end), mutual respect, and a real sense of camaraderie between Sherman and Stout, capturing what it’s like to be in an NFL defensive back room striving to be great.

This summary is designed to give you the highlights, core lessons, and energy of the episode — whether you’re a 49ers fan, a football enthusiast, or simply looking for insights into pro athlete mentality and teamwork.