Deion Sanders told “The Barbershop” in an interview posted on YouTube that his son, quarterback Shedeur Sanders, “went through hell” during a turbulent predraft process and his rookie season with the Cleveland Browns, and that much of the coverage was untruthful.
Deion said he can see the “scars on his back” and added that Shedeur “matured spiritually,” learning that “you can’t force this. If it ain’t your time, it ain’t your time.” Deion pushed back on some predraft reporting, saying claims that Shedeur entered meetings with headphones or was unprepared were false and inconsistent with the work that produced his college success.
Shedeur was viewed as one of the top quarterback prospects in the 2025 draft and was ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr.’s top-rated quarterback, but the report says he slipped to Day 3, where the Browns traded up to select him with the 144th overall pick. The surprising drop prompted discourse and multiple reports, citing anonymous team sources, that said he did not interview well at the NFL combine.
Deion was also critical of reporting during Shedeur’s first season in Cleveland, saying many accounts bothered him though they did not deter his son, who wanted the chance to play. The report says Shedeur began his pro career as Cleveland’s No. 4 quarterback, received no first-team reps in a training camp competition, became the backup ahead of Week 6 after Joe Flacco was traded to the Cincinnati Bengals, and made his NFL debut in the second half of a Week 11 game when Dillon Gabriel suffered a concussion.
The report says Shedeur started the final seven games of the season and Cleveland went 3-4 with him as the starter. He is now competing with Deshaun Watson for the Browns’ starting job in the 2026 season. The team finished the 2025 campaign 5-12, fired Kevin Stefanski after six seasons, and hired Todd Monken, the Baltimore Ravens’ former offensive coordinator, as head coach.
Deion said he plans to travel to Cleveland to meet Monken and intends to share insights about his son, noting he coached Shedeur through high school and college. The report says Shedeur called Monken’s arrival a “new vibe” after voluntary minicamp and said he feels “bulletproof” following the season he described as a learning experience.
