Hall of Famer Deion Sanders is leading his family through an interesting time, with his son, Shedeur Sanders, at the center of it all. Shedeur is battling Deshaun Watson for the Cleveland Browns’ starting quarterback position this offseason, and the odds aren’t favoring him. Deion, for one, had something to say about his son’s adversity.
Deion Sanders Reveals His Son Shedeur’s Mindset
Myles Garrett’s blockbuster trade to the Los Angeles Rams might’ve rocked Cleveland for a week, but the team’s quarterback battle has been its most prevalent matter. Second-year signal-caller Shedeur attempting to outgun veteran Watson is one of the biggest storylines of the offseason.
While Shedeur is developing steadily, Watson reportedly still leads the race for the starting job. Deion, on the one hand, is confident about his son’s uphill climb to the starting position.
“Well, of course, I’m his dad,” said Sanders. “No, I haven’t spoken to him (said Sanders, sarcastically). I’m just Dad. Of course, man. He’s gonna face haters like he’s always had.”
Shedeur came a long way from Jackson State to fighting for the Browns’ quarterback position. He compiled a respectable college resume at Colorado, which led to him getting selected in the 2025 NFL Draft, albeit in the fifth round.
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With the odds stacked against him as a third-string backup, he ultimately clawed his way up the Browns’ depth chart in his rookie season, securing seven starts. He even won three games after being thrown in the deep end, and it was enough to guarantee him a fair shot for the job under center against Watson.
“He’s not gonna face anything new that he hasn’t faced in the entirety of his life,” Deion said about Shedeur. “He’s always been up against the eight ball. He’s always been really undervalued, not really appreciated like he should, and he always comes through. He likes when odds are stacked up against him.”
Shedeur is said to be closing the gap to Watson, but he has plenty of improving to do on his 56.7 PFSN QB Impact score from 2025, which ranked third-worst in the league. However, having an offensive-minded head coach like Todd Monken could be exactly what he needs.
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The Browns’ front office drafted two wideouts, KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston, to support the quarterbacks on the roster, and now it’s up to Watson and Sanders to get the most out of them.
Winning the starting job will be a steep climb for Shedeur, and it remains to be seen whether he’ll be able to beat Watson and start the season as the Browns’ QB1.
