San Francisco 49ers Richard Sherman speaks on Kobe Bryant at Super Bowl Media Week

Kobe Bryant's death has affected much more than just the basketball community and it's already carried into the NFL's Super Bowl Media Week.

The Super Bowl is set for this upcoming Monday between the San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs and on Tuesday, just one day after the tragic news about the NBA legend, his name is already ringing throughout Media Week.

49ers star cornerback Richard Sherman considered Bryant to be one of his mentors – he took to Instagram and Twitter on Monday to share his condolences and his heart was heavy in addressing the media on the topic on Tuesday.

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I don’t have the words to describe what this man has meant to me. It pains me to the soul to hear he is gone so soon. Don’t get the chance to express how much his words inspired me and his actions gave me a blueprint to be great. A genuine human being this one hurts.

A post shared by Richard Sherman (@rsherman25) on Jan 26, 2020 at 4:13pm PST

"It's really sad. He was a friend of mine, he was a mentor. He meant a lot to this world and he made a positive impact and there's nothing I can really say to quantify his impact on myself and on others."

Sherman also reiterated what many of the NBA players who had to play yesterday had stated about Kobe's mentality and how that motivated them even during the saddest times.

"I was really sad yesterday and I was really sad this morning. ... I just thought about what he would tell me. He would tell me, 'stop being a baby and man up,' he would want me to win this game for him and that's what we're going to try to do."

"The Mamba Mentality still lives on."

KOBE: Thank you, Kobe | The NBA world mourns Kobe's passing

Sherman was then asked about the most "Mamba Mentality" moment that he has had in his career, and for those of you that are football fans, it was the perfect response you could have expected.

"Getting up from that torn Achilles and walking off the field. I saw him do it. I saw him make two free throws on a torn Achilles and walk off (the court). Once I tore mine, I knew I had to walk off.

"Like he said before, we're different animals but the same beast."

Sherman, one of the best corners in the NFL, had torn his Achilles two seasons ago – an injury that a 30-year-old cornerback should not be able to come back from. He was released from the Seattle Seahawks but was given another chance with the 49ers and has returned to one of the top players in the NFL at his position, helping lead his team to the Super Bowl.

If that doesn't scream Mamba Mentality, I don't know what else does.

Just don’t have the words.... #Kobe

— Richard Sherman (@RSherman_25) January 26, 2020