What Happened to Shedeur Deion Sanders?
Shedeur Sanders is an American professional football quarterback who rose to prominence playing under his father, Deion Sanders, at Jackson State and then the University of Colorado. After a record-setting college career, he was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft. Following a challenging rookie season where he became the Browns' starting quarterback and was controversially named to the 2025 Pro Bowl, Sanders is currently in a highly publicized competition with Deshaun Watson for the starting role in the 2026 season.
Quick Answer
Shedeur Sanders is currently a quarterback for the Cleveland Browns, competing for the starting job against Deshaun Watson for the 2026 NFL season. He was drafted by the Browns in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft after a standout college career at Jackson State and Colorado. In his 2025 rookie season, he became the Browns' starter for the final seven games, finishing with a 3-4 record, and was later selected to the 2025 Pro Bowl as a replacement.
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline13 events
Named Starting QB for Jackson State
Shedeur Sanders was named the starting quarterback for Jackson State University, playing under his father, Deion Sanders.
Wins Jerry Rice Award
Sanders became the first player from an HBCU to win the Jerry Rice Award, recognizing him as the most outstanding freshman in NCAA Division I FCS.
Wins Deacon Jones Trophy and SWAC Offensive Player of the Year
After a successful sophomore season, Sanders was awarded the Deacon Jones Trophy as the nation's top HBCU player and named SWAC Offensive Player of the Year.
Transfers to University of Colorado
Shedeur Sanders entered the NCAA transfer portal and subsequently transferred to the University of Colorado, following his father, Deion Sanders, who became the head coach.
Record-Breaking Colorado Debut
In his first game for the Colorado Buffaloes, Sanders completed 38 of 47 passes for a school-record 510 yards and four touchdowns in a win over TCU.
Wins Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award and Big 12 OPOY
Sanders concluded his senior year at Colorado by winning the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award and being named the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year.
Drafted by Cleveland Browns
Shedeur Sanders was selected by the Cleveland Browns in the fifth round (144th overall) of the 2025 NFL Draft, a selection noted as later than expected.
Colorado Retires Jersey Number 2
The University of Colorado announced that Shedeur Sanders' jersey number 2, along with Travis Hunter's, would be retired before the school's spring game.
Makes NFL Debut and First Start
After serving as a backup, Sanders made his NFL debut in Week 11 and his first NFL start the following week, leading the Browns to a win over the Las Vegas Raiders.
Named Starting QB for Remainder of 2025 Season
Following his debut, Sanders was named the starting quarterback for the remainder of the 2025 season, finishing with a 3-4 record in seven starts.
Selected to 2025 Pro Bowl
Sanders was added to the 2026 Pro Bowl roster as a replacement, a decision that generated some criticism due to his rookie season statistics.
Changes Jersey Number to 2 and Enters QB Competition
The Browns announced Sanders would change his jersey number from 12 to 2 for the 2026 season and would enter an open competition for the starting QB job with Deshaun Watson.
Strong Showing in QB Battle Ahead of Training Camp
Reports indicate Shedeur Sanders has closed the gap with Deshaun Watson in the Browns' quarterback competition, with some analysts predicting he could win the starting job for the 2026 season.
🔍Deep Dive Analysis
Shedeur Deion Sanders, born February 7, 2002, began his football journey at Trinity Christian School in Cedar Hill, Texas, where his father, NFL Hall of Famer Deion Sanders, served as offensive coordinator. He achieved significant success in high school, completing his prep career with 12,498 passing yards and 166 touchdowns.
His collegiate career commenced at Jackson State University in 2021, where he played under his father. As the Tigers' starting quarterback, Sanders quickly made an impact, leading the team to their first SWAC East Title since 2013 and a SWAC Championship in 2021. He was honored with the Jerry Rice Award as the most outstanding freshman in the NCAA Division I FCS and the Deacon Jones Trophy in 2022 as the nation's top HBCU player. During his two seasons at Jackson State, he completed 616 of 901 passes for 6,983 yards and 70 touchdowns.
In 2023, Sanders followed his father to the University of Colorado, where he continued to excel. He set numerous school records, including single-season passing yards, and led the Buffaloes to a 9-4 record in 2024, culminating in an Alamo Bowl appearance. In 2024, he completed a career-high 74% of his passes for 4,134 yards with 37 touchdowns and 10 interceptions, earning second-team All-American honors, the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year award, and the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award. Colorado later retired his jersey number, along with Travis Hunter's, in April 2025.
Despite his impressive college statistics, Sanders' 2025 NFL Draft stock was a subject of considerable debate, with some analysts noting concerns about his play and off-field distractions. He was ultimately selected by the Cleveland Browns in the fifth round, 144th overall, on April 26, 2025, a much later pick than many had initially projected. His rookie season with the Browns saw him begin as a backup, but he was thrust into the starting role in Week 11 after injuries to other quarterbacks. He started the final seven games, leading the team to a 3-4 record. He finished the 2025 season with 1,400 passing yards, seven touchdowns, and 10 interceptions, along with the worst passer rating in the NFL for quarterbacks with a minimum of 200 attempts.
In a surprising development, Sanders was added to the 2026 Pro Bowl roster on January 26, 2026, as a replacement, a selection that drew criticism given his rookie statistics. As of July 16, 2026, Shedeur Sanders is engaged in a highly anticipated quarterback competition with veteran Deshaun Watson for the Browns' starting job. He has also changed his jersey number back to No. 2, the number he wore in college. Reports indicate the Browns are standing by Sanders despite trade speculations, and he is making strides in the competition, with some predicting he could win the starting role for the 2026 season.
What If...?
Explore alternate histories. What if Shedeur Deion Sanders made different choices?