Shedeur Sanders is reclaiming a piece of his identity as he heads into year two in Cleveland. The Browns quarterback, who wore No. 12 throughout his rookie season, appears poised to switch back to the number that defined his college career and personal brand.
The move comes as Sanders enters the offseason as the frontrunner for the starting job after finishing 3-4 as a starter over the final seven games of 2025.
Why Shedeur Sanders Is Reclaiming No. 2 for His Second NFL Season
The Browns announced Monday that Sanders will wear No. 2 for the 2026 season, reuniting the second-year quarterback with the number he made famous before reaching the NFL.
For Sanders, No. 2 represents more than fabric and thread. He wore it as a high school star in Texas, carried it through two seasons at Jackson State under his father, Deion Sanders, and made it iconic during his time at Colorado.
The Buffaloes retired the number alongside Travis Hunter’s No. 12 following their final college season together. Sanders built his personal apparel line, 2Legendary, around the digit.
S2 ⌚
Shedeur Sanders will wear number 2 next season pic.twitter.com/7ahSitctcs
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) March 30, 2026
When he arrived in Cleveland as a fifth-round pick in 2025, the number wasn’t available. Veteran wide receiver and return specialist DeAndre Carter had already claimed it after signing with the team that March. Carter’s seniority as a nine-year veteran factored into the decision, even though he had never previously worn No. 2 in his NFL career.
Sanders handled the situation with characteristic humor during the rookie minicamp. “Nah, I’m not trying to buy anything,” Sanders said when asked if he considered purchasing the number from Carter. “My signing bonus ain’t that high right now.”
As the 144th overall pick, Sanders’ rookie contract came in at $4,647,380 with a $447,380 signing bonus. Offering cash for a jersey swap wasn’t realistic based on his contract.
How Sanders Finally Got His College Number Back in Cleveland
The Browns released Carter in late August 2025 as rookie Gage Larvadain emerged during the preseason as a capable return option, though the veteran was later re-signed. Carter suffered a knee injury in Week 4 against Detroit and landed on injured reserve. He’s now a free agent, leaving No. 2 available for the first time since Sanders joined the organization.
Sanders moved merchandise at an elite level despite wearing an unfamiliar number. He was among the top-selling rookies in jersey sales following the draft and ranked fifth in the NFL by season’s start, ahead of Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson.
BE AN NFL GM: PFSN’s Ultimate GM Simulator
Only Saquon Barkley, Jalen Hurts, Jayden Daniels, and Josh Allen outsold him. He and Hurts were the only non-first-round picks in the top five.
With No. 2 back on his jersey, those sales figures could climb even higher. And for Sanders, the number switch likely signals something beyond commerce.
It’s a statement that he’s no longer the overlooked fifth-rounder fighting for a roster spot. He’s Cleveland’s quarterback now, but he has to work hard to cement his place as the QB1.
Sanders didn’t have a great rookie season, throwing for 1,400 yards, 7 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions, with an underwhelming passer rating of 68.1. According to PFSN’s QB Impact Metric, Sanders finished the season as the 46th-ranked quarterback in the league.
