The University of Colorado recently announced it will retire the jersey numbers worn by Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter. That means no other player will ever wear No. 2 or No. 12 again in Boulder — those numbers are now permanently tied to the duo.
Although the decision sparked mixed reactions on social media, Shedeur Sanders responded with excitement as he acknowledged his love for and pride in the school that helped prepare him for the 2025 NFL Draft at the end of April.
Shedeur Sanders Reacts to Jersey Retirement at Colorado
Through Colorado’s official Instagram page, the university announced the retirement of Sanders’ No. 2 jersey and Hunter’s No. 12 jersey during the program’s spring game on April 19. Sanders responded in the comments with a single word: “LEGENDARY.”
Shedeur is excited to return to Colorado for his jersey retirement. pic.twitter.com/Onvc7oVwxK
— NFL Enthusiast (@NFLEnthusiast1) April 15, 2025
Sanders’ college career at Colorado was marked by heavy media attention, thanks largely to the dynamic duo he formed with Hunter, plus the fact that he was coached by his uber-famous father, NFL legend Deion Sanders.
Sanders threw for 7,364 yards and 64 touchdowns (13 interceptions) over two seasons in Boulder. In 2024, the talented quarterback led all of college football in completion percentage at 74%. That efficiency, combined with his poise and production, helped solidify him as one of the top quarterback prospects in the upcoming NFL Draft.
Now, his journey will continue in the NFL. Several teams with picks in Round 1 have shown interest in Sanders, including the New York Giants, and his draft range remains one of the biggest storylines to watch on April 24.
Sanders has the realistic potential to go anywhere from the top-10 to the end of the first round. Regardless of where he lands, his legacy at Colorado is already cemented, with the retirement of his No. 2 jersey serving as a lasting tribute to his impact on the program.
You can find the full breakdown of Sanders’ scouting profile here:
Scouting Report: Analyzing Sanders’ Strengths
- Offers acceptable velocity with some nice zip behind his throws.
- Capable of delivering strikes into tight windows.
- Hits receivers in stride outside of the numbers with good speed and accuracy.
- Has a sharp internal sense of timing behind his throws.
- Naturally accurate passer who has good touch down the field.
- Showcases serious flashes of impressive deep-ball accuracy.
- Tough quarterback who can take a hit and keep on dealing.
- Pocket mobility allows him to evade incoming defenders.
- Does a great job of making sound decisions in a clean pocket.
- Able to take over a game in the clutch with composure and an ability to elevate those around him.
- Thrives in the pocket and enters an NFL where short, quick passes are often used to maximize offensive efficiency, which plays to his strengths quite well.
- Showed significant progression across all four seasons he played at the collegiate level.
Scouting Report: Analyzing Sanders’ Weaknesses
- Not a bad athlete for a quarterback, but he’s not as athletic as he thinks he is.
- Has a tendency to hold onto the ball too long instead of hitting the check-down or throwing the ball away.
- Lateral agility or breakaway speed with the ball in his hands is generally pretty average.
- Has a game-manager skill set but a gunslinger mentality, which can come back to bite him.
- Follow-through in his throwing motion is inconsistent, as his footwork and hip rotation aren’t regularly sound.
- Tends to drift backward in the pocket to avoid pressure instead of stepping up.
- Can be a split second too late to read a receiver’s route tempo, which can see him miss out on extra YAC by hitting his open targets a hair too late.
- Has made some concerning comments to the media, indicating a potential lack of accountability.
- Chirps a lot on the field, which can leave him susceptible to occasional unsportsmanlike penalties.
The three teams that have shown the most interest in Sanders appear to be the New York Giants, New Orleans Saints, and Pittsburgh Steelers. That gives us insight into the kind of offenses that view Sanders as a valuable asset — systems that prioritize structure, timing, and smart decision-making.
Whichever team best tailors its scheme to his strengths will give Sanders the best shot at reaching his full potential as a cerebral NFL quarterback.