Each NFL team is required to reduce its roster to 53 players by Tuesday. That means there will be many players who see their dreams of making the active roster dashed. However, that does not mean the end of their football career.
One of the most polarizing players to get waived was Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Shilo Sanders. He is the son of NFL Hall of Famer Deion Sanders and joined the Bucs this offseason as an undrafted free agent.
Deion Sanders Reacts to Shilo Sanders Getting Waived
Sanders was waived on Sunday after the Buccaneers’ third preseason game, where he was ejected for throwing a punch. That was likely the final straw for the former Colorado star with the Bucs, as teams do not take player ejections lightly.
When you are an undrafted free agent, you almost have to do everything perfectly to make the team, and Sanders did not do that.
In less than 24 hours, rookie safety Shilo Sanders got ejected from a game and then waived from the Buccaneers. pic.twitter.com/HcyUk5uv9e
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 24, 2025
After the news of his son’s departure from the Buccaneers, reporters asked Deion for his thoughts and what the next steps would be for his son as an NFL player.
“I’m proud of my kids, all of them, and I prepared my kids for any and everything that could possibly happen in life and in sports,” Deion said. “So, he is mentally where he needs to be, physically where he needs to be. We’re praying that he gets another opportunity to go with a team. But if he doesn’t, the plans have already been put forward to what he’s going to do next.”
Deion reacts to his son Shilo Sanders getting cut from the Buccaneers 🏈
“All of the Sanders’ are gonna be straight, with or without football.”
(via @CUBuffsFootball) pic.twitter.com/ga2S7jFhqa
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) August 26, 2025
Deion does not seem concerned about his son getting waived. He continued, “Shilo is a man of many talents, and he’s going to be straight. All the Sanders are going to be straight, with or without football, you better believe that. I take care of mine, and I always have, and y’all know what I mean.”
It appears that the Colorado head coach and his son already have a plan in place for his post-football career, but the hope is that he can secure another team and continue playing.
Sanders Has Another Unlikely Landing Spot Lined Up
Even if Sanders is unable to find an NFL team to play for, there is a CFL team that would take him. The Toronto Argonauts have acquired the CFL negotiating rights to the former Buccaneers safety.
Therefore, if Shilo ever chooses to play in the CFL, the Argonauts will have the first opportunity to sign him, similar to Shedeur, as they hold his rights as well.
Shilo has some time until he needs to decide what to do next for his football career, but having the CFL as a second option is not a bad thing. Moreover, other NFL teams, including the Buccaneers, might be interested in signing him to their practice squad.
