NFL, American Football Herren, USA Buffalo Bills at Cleveland Browns Dec 21, 2025 Cleveland, Ohio, USA Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders 12 with father Deion Sanders prior to a game against the Buffalo Bills at Huntington Bank Field. Cleveland Huntington Bank Field Ohio USA, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xScottxGalvinx 20251221_rtc_bg7_0006
NFL, American Football Herren, USA Buffalo Bills at Cleveland Browns Dec 21, 2025 Cleveland, Ohio, USA Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders 12 with father Deion Sanders prior to a game against the Buffalo Bills at Huntington Bank Field. Cleveland Huntington Bank Field Ohio USA, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xScottxGalvinx 20251221_rtc_bg7_0006
Jan 10, 2026, 4:30 PM CUT
Deion Sanders Makes Feelings Clear Over Shedeur Sanders' Rookie Season Amidst Criticism
After a season of uncertainty, interceptions, and touchdowns, Shedeur Sanders has received a verdict from arguably his most important critic: Deion Sanders.
While talking on The PreGame Show podcast, the Hall of Famer was happy to see Shedeur's progress.
"I'm proud of him because a lot of things happened behind the curtain that people aren't pretty too. He's come so far spiritually... but he learned a lot as a young man... and he made it through the storms. I get on his nerves with text messages before and after the game about the direction and everything because I'm trying to protect him in certain ways because I know him. I know him like a book."
Shedeur wasn’t a starter for a big part of the 2025 season. He got a chance after another rookie, Dillon Gabriel, failed to impress the Browns’ fans. The rookie quarterback seized the opportunity, finishing the season strong.
"But he's been doing a phenomenal job... but just giving hope, man. Hope to the people that have been ostracized. He's been a role model for that."
In seven starts, he scored 7 touchdowns for 1400 passing yards. However, his performance was inconsistent, as he threw 10 interceptions and was sacked 23 times. Moreover, Shedeur finished the season with the worst QB rating of just 19. With the departure of Kevin Stefanski, his position as QB1 looms in uncertainty.
But will Shedeur Sanders retain his starter role for 2026?
According to GM Andrew Berry, the Browns will look to bring in QB options for 2026.
“I can’t sit here and tell you today whether the solution for, or the starter in 2026, is internal or external. But it’s something that we’re going to work through over the next several weeks. And quite honestly, the new head coach will also have a lot of input into that as well.”
The rookie QB, however, believes he can take on the role.
"I think I did what I was able to do, and I definitely grew from a lot of things, and I got experience now. So, I’m always the same, confidence-wise, I’m there. But like, that’s not in my hands. Like, that’s not my decision. I can’t speak on what other people feel."
Written by
Kalp Thaker
Edited by
Siddharth Shirwadkar