The Cleveland Browns entered Week 12 with not much to smile about. The team was 2-8 and had looked lifeless on offense for much of the season. However, due to an injury to Dillon Gabriel, Shedeur Sanders was given his first start for the team.
Sanders didn’t have a perfect performance, but he did do enough to give the Browns a much-needed win. Now, fans of the long-suffering franchise are already taking to social media to anoint Sanders the franchise quarterback after he was officially named the starter going forward.
Fans are Thrilled After Sanders’ Debut Win
Sanders completed 11 of his 20 passes for 209 yards with one touchdown and one interception in his debut. The quarterback made a few big throws and also did a fine job of keeping plays alive.
Head coach Kevin Stefanski was clearly impressed enough to feel comfortable naming Sanders the starter. This move was praised by fans, who have been clamoring for a franchise quarterback for an endless time.
After the announcement, fans took to social media to hype Sanders up. One fan happily declared that the “franchise quarterback is here,” while another stated that the “haters are in shambles.”
Stefanski was initially hesitant to name Sanders the starter, which led another fan to proclaim that this move has “owner’s decision written all over it.”
Gabriel hadn’t exactly done anything to cement himself as the starter. The fellow rookie had compiled a 1-5 record so far while throwing for just 937 yards with seven touchdowns and two interceptions.
PFSN’s QB Impact ranking gave Gabriel a 50.6 grade for his 2025 performance, which is the second-worst mark among all qualified passers. Thus, it’s not surprising that one fan said it “would have been insane” to go back to Gilbert.
This was the right choice, it would have been insane if they went back to Gabriel after that win.
— Baba Blue Jay (@BabaBlueJay) November 24, 2025
Another fan was thrilled by the decision and declared that Sanders “is here to stay.”
WRISTS UP BABY SHEDEUR SANDERS IS HERE TO STAY https://t.co/M7enDKGG2Q pic.twitter.com/2Nx64DDzZK
— Bisc (@BiscSport23) November 24, 2025
While fans are clearly supportive of the move, only time will tell if Sanders is truly the franchise quarterback the team has been desperately seeking.
Sanders’ Announcement Makes Goal for Rest of 2025 Clear
The playoffs are not in the cards this year, so the Browns’ primary focus should now be on developing Sanders. After his first start, Sanders even got some advice from his dad, the legendary Deion Sanders.
“You played good. You gotta just look at the film and evaluate yourself on the wrong,” shared Deion.
The Browns need to determine whether Sanders is a flash in the pan or if he can truly lead the team going forward. The team will have a high draft pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, but this isn’t expected to be the deepest quarterback class.
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The team’s next games are against the 49ers, Tennessee Titans, and Chicago Bears. If Sanders keeps performing at a high level, the Browns can finally feel good about the quarterback position.
