Every NFL Draft season comes with its share of surprises, disappointments, and heated debates. But this year, one Colorado football fan has taken his frustration to an unprecedented and frankly bizarre level.
An anonymous fan identifying himself only as “John Doe” has filed a $100 million lawsuit against the National Football League, claiming “severe emotional distress” after watching former Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders fall to the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft. Sanders, once projected as a first-round pick, was ultimately selected 144th overall by the Cleveland Browns.
John Doe Files Lawsuit Over Shedeur Sanders’ Draft Slide
Doe, a 55-year-old Georgia resident, alleges that the emotional toll of Sanders’ draft-day slide left him suffering from “mental anguish, loss of appetite, and an inability to focus at work.”
In his lawsuit, Doe accuses the NFL of violating antitrust and civil rights laws, arguing that team owners “colluded” to harm Sanders’ draft position. He’s seeking not only $100 million in punitive damages, but also a formal apology, a retraction of “slanderous statements” about Sanders, and reforms to ensure a “fairer” draft process.
“It was immediate frustration,” Doe told The Independent. “This guy was projected to be the first or second pick, no later than the top five, and to watch mediocre players be chosen before him… it was frustrating.”
Doe went even further, adding:
“And to have all the NFL owners collude and not draft him, it was mentally frustrating and debilitating. For them to believe that they can just do this and there’s no recourse. It has to stop.”
Social Media Reacts to Shedeur Sanders’ Lawsuit
The lawsuit first surfaced publicly via RedditCFB’s post on X, setting off a viral reaction across social media. Fans were quick to weigh in on the bizarre case, many questioning Doe’s sanity—and the legal standing of the complaint.
One fan summed up the general sentiment bluntly:
“I’ve been following football for over 20 years, and this is the most absurd thing I’ve seen. You can’t sue the NFL just because you’re mad.” (via X reply)
Legal analysts aren’t giving the lawsuit much chance of success. “I expect the court to indeed promptly dismiss it as frivolous,” UCLA law professor Eugene Volokh told Reason.
Sanders Staying Focused Amid the Noise
Sanders, who entered the draft with first-round hype under head coach and father Deion Sanders at Colorado, saw his stock fall after analysts and coaching staffs cited concerns about his pocket awareness, decision-making under pressure, entitlement, and potentially being overshadowed by his father. These factors may have contributed to teams passing on him until the fifth round.
Neither Sanders nor his representatives have publicly commented on the lawsuit. Sources close to the quarterback told reporters he remains focused on preparing for training camp, choosing to let his play do the talking.
While Doe’s lawsuit faces long odds in court, it’s already earned a place in NFL Draft lore by adding yet another strange twist to one of the most talked-about draft slides in recent memory.
