After five weeks, the Cleveland Browns have officially named Shedeur Sanders their backup quarterback, a move made possible by trading veteran Joe Flacco to the Cincinnati Bengals.
While Sanders is not yet the starter, the promotion marks a significant step forward, placing him directly behind fellow rookie teammate Dillon Gabriel on the depth chart. Following the trade, Deion Sanders, Shedeur’s father and the head coach of the Colorado Buffaloes, spoke to the media to share his candid thoughts on the situation.
What Does Deion Sanders Think About the Joe Flacco Trade?
Despite the trade directly benefiting his son’s NFL career, Deion Sanders made it clear that his primary focus remains with his college team. In a statement to the press, he said, “I don’t give a darn about the Browns. I care about the Colorado Buffaloes.”
Coach Prime on the news the Browns traded away Joe Flacco:
“I don’t give a darn about the Browns, I care about the Colorado Buffaloes…
I do love me some Shedeur Sanders though, believe that. “ 😂 pic.twitter.com/M87pQfUrFB
— DNVR Buffs (@DNVR_Buffs) October 7, 2025
He did add a personal note, acknowledging, “I do love me some Shedeur Sanders though, believe that,” but his professional stance was firm.
The move has paid off for the younger Sanders, who is now listed as the Browns’ official backup quarterback on their unofficial depth chart for the upcoming game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
#Browns Shedeur Sanders listed as QB2 behind Dillon Gabriel on the unofficial depth chart for the #Steelers game: pic.twitter.com/ffL8zuGwob
— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) October 7, 2025
This rapid ascent from the fourth-string quarterback to the second-string role in just a few months is a promising sign for what could potentially come for Sanders this season.
Why Did the Sanders Family Dispute Claims About Travis Hunter?
In a separate issue, the Sanders family publicly corrected a statement about another one of their former star players, Travis Hunter. After Omaha Productions posted a clip of Eli Manning claiming that Hunter did not practice on offense at Colorado, Deion Sanders Jr. quickly refuted the assertion. Responding directly to the post, he wrote, “Don’t let them lie to you Mr. Manning, he practiced Wr & DB equally.”
Don’t let them lie to you Mr Manning, he practiced Wr & DB equally. https://t.co/QjwvpnI9S8
— Deion Sanders Jr (@DeionSandersJr) October 7, 2025
Shortly thereafter, Deion Sanders addressed the claim in a press conference, saying simply, “That was a lie.”
Coach Prime response to Eli Manning saying he was told Travis Hunter only played defense at Colorado:
“That was a lie.” pic.twitter.com/9JgcPMBei4
— GUCCE🦬🐦⬛ (@gucceCU) October 7, 2025
While Manning noted he was only reporting what he had been told, the original statement was puzzling, as it is highly unusual for a team’s top receiver not to practice on offense. During his two seasons at Colorado, Hunter was one of the most productive offensive players in college football, accumulating over 1,600 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns.
The public pushback prompted Liam Coen, the apparent source of the original information, to walk back his statement. In a later appearance, he clarified that Hunter did practice on offense, just not as much as he practiced on defense.
“Travis Hunter practiced on offense at Colorado but it just wasn’t as much as he did on defense..
He’s getting better and better and we’re excited for what’s in store” ~ @LiamCoen #PMSLive https://t.co/0Cfv0b0671 pic.twitter.com/bMRP5a41wR
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) October 7, 2025
Although Coen corrected his comment, it was a notable error that seemed to discredit the immense amount of work Hunter, now with the Jacksonville Jaguars, put in on both sides of the ball for Colorado.
Now in the NFL, Hunter is already making a significant impact. He has helped lead the Jaguars to the 14th-ranked offense, according to PFSN’s Offensive Impact grade.
Despite their 4-1 record, this ranking suggests room for improvement for the Jacksonville offense. As Hunter settles into his new role, the unit appears poised to get even stronger.