Shedeur Sanders has always been a target for nepotism accusations, and as he begins his NFL journey, the quarterback is putting a firm stop to that narrative. The transition is expected to be especially risky for Sanders, who, along with his brother, Shilo Sanders, has played under their father, Deion Sanders, since their Trinity Christian High School days.
In other words, they have little experience playing football without their dad as coach.
Shedeur, considered an early-to-mid Round 1 prospect, comes with concerns about whether he can thrive without his father guiding him. Regardless, Prime Time’s son has always been confident in his own skills, and his latest statement shutting down those doubts shows that confidence loud and clear.
Shedeur Sanders Sternly Puts Stop to Questions Surrounding Dad Not Coaching Him
While Sanders has long accepted the criticism that comes with being Deion’s son, he’s done playing defense when it comes to his talent — especially when critics tie it to his dad.
“Dad ain’t out there playing for me now,” Shedeur said, per ESPN’s Kalyn Kahler. “You acting like he out there snapping the ball. He not in the mic, saying, ‘Hey, throw this slant right here.’ He not doing that at all. So he just oversees everything,” Sanders explained.
The Colorado quarterback has been vocal about separating his own skill set from his father’s influence in media interviews, much more so than during his college days.
Sanders has faced criticism since his Jackson State days, and it only intensified when he took over as Colorado’s QB1. The 2023 season and the offseason that followed were rough for the father-son duo as the Buffaloes finished 4-8.
But the scrutiny didn’t stop even after he helped reestablish Colorado as one of the Big 12’s top programs in 2024, finishing with a 9-4 record. These days, the focus is more on his film than his stats.
NFL scouts have dissected Sanders’ game more than most, pointing out issues with accuracy, holding the ball too long, drifting in the pocket, or tapping the ball excessively. Still, he came ready for it and credits his dad for preparing him.
“I don’t think anybody’s going to be harder on Shedeur than I’ve seen his dad be on him,” Colorado linebackers coach Andre’ Hart said. “There had been some moments where I even cringed, and I was like, ‘Gosh, give him a break, yo. It wasn’t that bad!’”
Shedeur Sanders has been unapologetically confident in his NFL interviews, even if it’s rubbed some teams the wrong way. But that authenticity? It’s easy to see where it comes from because the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.
