The reluctance of Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski to place full trust in quarterback Shedeur Sanders has become increasingly evident, drawing attention beyond football as a former NBA player weighed in on the controversy-laden situation.
Former NBA Player Questions Kevin Stefanski’s Confidence in Shedeur Sanders
Shedeur Sanders’ NFL journey has been a hectic one, and now that he’s become the Cleveland Browns’ starting quarterback, it has become increasingly evident that head coach Kevin Stefanski appears reluctant to have him under center. The situation has drawn attention beyond football, with other prominent athletes openly voicing their opinions.
One of the latest to weigh in on Sanders’ treatment is former NBA player Eddie Johnson. Johnson, now a television color analyst for the Phoenix Suns, publicly criticized Stefanski in a post on X on Sunday.
“The @Browns head coach has Serious trust issues,” Johsnon wrote, tagging the team. “What does S. Sanders have to do for you to give him the ball when you need to extend a drive sir!”
The @Browns head coach has Serious trust issues. What does S. Sanders have to do for you to give him the ball when you need to extend a drive sir!
— Eddie A Johnson (@Jumpshot8) November 30, 2025
Sanders came in to start for Cleveland after fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel suffered a concussion two weeks ago. Sanders led the Browns to a 24-10 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders last week, completing 11 of 20 passes for 209 yards with one touchdown and one interception.
In his second start, however, it appeared Stefanski opted for a more conservative game plan against the San Francisco 49ers, relying more on the running game in the Browns’ 26-8 loss. Sanders threw for one touchdown and completed 16 of 25 passes for 149 yards.
Johnson is someone who is highly cognizant of letting a young star grow through getting their reps in. The 17-year NBA veteran was part of three notable playoff teams in the Suns, the Seattle Supersonics, and the Houston Rockets.
The co-host of Sirius XM’s NBA Today show was there to witness the growth of stars such as Phoenix point guard Kevin Johnson, Seattle’s Gary Payton and Shawn Kemp, and Houston’s Hakeem Olajuwon.
His perspective resonated with many across social media and was echoed in the postgame press conference, where Sanders was asked about Stefanski’s play-calling. The quarterback pushed back against a reporter’s question on the matter.
Stefanski confirmed at the postgame press conference that Sanders will start next week in Cleveland’s home game against the Tennessee Titans. That matchup may provide Sanders the opportunity to perform well enough to ease the scrutiny currently directed at Stefanski.
