The Cleveland Browns are familiar with quarterback controversy and the struggle to find someone who can help them get back to winning in the postseason.
They chose to draft a pair of QBs in the 2025 NFL Draft: Dillon Gabriel in the third round and Shedeur Sanders in the fifth. Sanders has finally gotten an opportunity to start, and one former NFL player took a surprising take on how he is doing so far.
What Did One NFL Legend Have To Say About Shedeur Sanders as a Starter?
Sanders is making his second start against the San Francisco 49ers during Week 13. The Browns enter the matchup at 3-8, and the 49ers are 8-4.
A few weeks ago, most Browns fans would have felt this game was out of the team’s reach. However, after Sanders was able to lead his team to victory over the Las Vegas Raiders, there are many who think he is just what this team needs.
Former Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Michael Irvin spent his entire 12-year career in blue and silver. He spent five years of that time with Sanders’ father, Deion Sanders. The elder Sanders and Irvin even won a Super Bowl together.
Now Irvin is an NFL analyst, and he recently posted on X about his feelings on how Shedeur is doing as a starter.
“My nephew Shedeur Sanders is looking way better than ANY QUARTERBACK the Browns have put on the field this SEASON!!!! !!!!!!!!!!! And last season,” posted Irvin on X.
Deion and Irvin are not technically related by blood, not actually the brothers he says they are, but they describe their relationship as a brotherhood. They became very close during their time with the team, and Irvin has acted as a mentor and an advocate for Shedeur.
While Sanders did not necessarily put on the statistically best game of the season out of the three quarterbacks who’ve started, he seemed to bring a different energy level that made all the difference.
My nephew @ShedeurSanders is looking way better than ANY QUARTERBACK the @Browns have put on the field this SEASON!!!! !!!!!!!!!!! And last season
— Michael Irvin (@michaelirvin88) November 30, 2025
According to PFSN’s Quarterback Impact metric, Sanders has not started enough games to earn a score yet. However, both Joe Flacco and Gabriel have impact scores. Gabriel is the second-worst quarterback in the league with a grade of F and a score of 51.5.
Flacco was benched in favor of Gabriel before being traded to the Cincinnati Bengals after their Week 4 loss to the Minnesota Vikings. Prior to his benching, he had not played well, ranking 34th in PFSN’s impact metric.
The Browns’ defense is one of the best in the league, ranked third overall, and the team hopes Irvin is correct and that Sanders will be the piece that helps get their offense back on track.
