Shedeur Sanders’ rookie NFL journey is already off to a headline-grabbing start—and not entirely for football reasons. Days after the former Colorado quarterback surprisingly slid to the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, a new viral TikTok video has fans buzzing once again. This time, it’s about whether Sanders is sending a not-so-subtle message to the Atlanta Falcons and defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich.
Was Shedeur Sanders Taking a Shot at Atlanta Falcons?
Sanders, who was drafted No. 144 overall by the Cleveland Browns, posted his first TikTok dance since the draft, set to the song “I’m So ATL” by Atlanta rapper Bankroll Ni. Given the drama surrounding the Falcons’ reported prank call incident leading up to draft weekend, the timing and song choice immediately sparked heavy speculation online.
Just In: Star QB Shedeur Sanders has released his first TikTok dance since being drafted by the Cleveland Browns.
How do people hate on this kid?? 🔥 pic.twitter.com/I3CRBGXkiX
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) April 27, 2025
Before Sanders ever heard his name called, controversy erupted when a video surfaced showing the son of Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich prank-calling Sanders, pretending to be the general manager of the New Orleans Saints.
The backlash toward Ulbrich has been swift and loud. Some around the league — and on social media — have called for his firing, arguing that the incident crossed the line from harmless fun into unprofessional behavior that could negatively impact a young player’s career.
With that backdrop, Sanders dancing to an “ATL” anthem days later was guaranteed to turn heads. Was it an intentional dig at the Falcons and Ulbrich? A clever way to get the last laugh after an embarrassing ordeal? Or simply a case of a rookie vibing to a favorite track?
In reality, it’s probably a stretch to claim Sanders was throwing deliberate shade. “I’m So ATL” is a popular song in its own right. Still, in today’s NFL social media era, perception can carry as much weight as reality.
Sanders isn’t letting the drama derail his momentum. After months of being projected as a top-10 pick and experiencing an unexpected Day 3 freefall, he seems more determined than ever to prove himself in Cleveland. If anything, this TikTok shows he’s keeping his swagger and — maybe — he’s having a little fun with the controversy too.
Sanders Owns Up to Mistakes, Looks Forward to Fresh Start with Cleveland Browns
Now, with rookie minicamp around the corner, Sanders is reflecting on the rollercoaster ride that brought him to Cleveland. In a brutally honest moment, the Browns’ new quarterback opened up about how he handled the predraft process — and admitted he wishes he had approached parts of it differently.
Despite the whirlwind surrounding his draft slide, Sanders is trying to focus on the positives. Hours after he heard his name called by the Browns, Sanders was on a conference call with the media.
“I’m extremely grateful for the opportunity throughout everything,” Sanders said. “I don’t ever focus on a negative or even think about the negative because the positive happened so fast.”
When asked directly whether he had any regrets about how he handled the months leading up to the draft, Sanders didn’t dodge the question.
“I feel like in life, there’s always a way I can improve. I’m able to improve,” Sanders said. “And some things that I [did] that seemed right at the time, I could’ve went about it a different way.”
That level of self-awareness may be exactly what Sanders needs to win over a Browns locker room filled with veterans who have seen plenty of young quarterbacks come and go. Sanders emphasized that he understands the importance of earning respect from day one.
“I know I’m going to fit in perfectly,” Sanders said. “I feel like first thing getting in is showing respect to the vets. I’m getting ready to work and show the coaches, have them understand I’m ready to work, actually understand the real me.”