Shedeur Sanders was one of the most talked-about draft prospects in recent memory. It’s not just because of his game and stats, but because he’s the son of NFL Hall of Famer Deion Sanders. Shedeur attracts a level of attention that’s nearly unprecedented, and with that comes a lot of hate.
Now, in the Cleveland Browns’ loaded quarterback room, all eyes are on Sanders and he is taking the criticism head-on. In a recent interview, Sanders revealed that nearly all of the hate he receives stems from a single person.
Shedeur Sanders Believes ‘99% of Hatred’ He Receives Is Due to His Father, Deion
At one point, Sanders was expected to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, but a combination of factors, including his famous father, caused a historic slide for the Colorado alum.
The Browns finally gave Sanders a home by selecting him with the 144th overall pick, and he quickly became the league’s top-selling rookie jersey.
In an interview with Cleveland.com, Shedeur talked about the hate he receives and why he’s so popular among the younger generation. Interestingly, he believes that the criticism comes from older fans who dislike his father, whereas young fans don’t feel strongly about his dad since they were too young to watch him play. He also argued that kids don’t care about others’ opinions, blocking out the vitriol that older folks harbor toward Deion.
“They don’t care about other people’s opinion of you,” Sanders said. “They go based off their own — 99% of hatred [directed at me] is toward Pops. And then I’m just his son. But (the kids) didn’t grow up in an era to where they watched him play. It’s just the older generation that does it to me rather than the younger people. Because when I come in person, there’s no negativity I see. But it‘s all over online.
“So, that‘s why I say I like going [to schools] in person and actually meeting them, and any questions they have, I say, ‘Just ask me whatever question you want. Pick any question. No filter, no anything.’ That‘s what they say. And then I just answer whatever they need me to answer.”
All the hate Shedeur gets come from nobodies on social media and media ppl looking for clicks in real life ppl rock with him and he gives back 💯🤞🏾#realityvsinternet pic.twitter.com/PhTgJ2Dbco
— Chris Johnson (@everybdyhatesch)
Shortly after being drafted in the fifth round, Sanders visited John Marshall High School and another local high school in Cleveland. The 23-year-old vowed to inspire local kids after hearing his name called and has already started delivering on this promise.
Sanders is off to a great start with the Browns, as he impressed the coaches and analysts alike in the rookie minicamp.
While he faces an uphill battle when it comes to winning the starting QB job, he appears to be doing all the right things to ingratiate himself and take advantage of his opportunity.