Shilo Sanders, son of NFL Hall of Famer Deion Sanders and newly signed rookie safety with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, is facing serious legal and financial hurdles. The $11.89 million debt he carries is now at the center of a legal battle that could shape his NFL future.
Will Shilo Sanders Be Forced to Pay $11.89 Million After Joining the Buccaneers?
A federal bankruptcy judge has approved subpoenas for records related to a 2015 incident involving Sanders, when he was 15 years old. Bankruptcy Judge Michael E. Romero decided that the subpoenas, sought by creditor John Darjean (who had previously worked as a security guard at Sanders’s Dallas school), were justified. Although the nature of the documents remains sealed, the order pertains to records, investigations, and police reports from a third party, also redacted.
The case revolves around a 2015 altercation in which Darjean claims that Sanders severely and permanently injured him after elbowing him in the chest and punching him. The clash took place while Darjean attempted to seize Sanders’ phone. In ÍŹ2016, Darjean filed a lawsuit against Sanders, ÍŹwho ÍŹdid not show up for the trial. ÍŹAs a result, in 2022, Darjean was awarded a default judgment amounting to $11.ÍŹ89 million.
After Darjean began collection proceedings in 2023, Sanders filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, listing the judgment as part of over $11 million in debt. His attorneys͏ ͏argued that ͏bankruptcy would͏ offer him a “͏fresh ͏start, free from the oppressive burdens of his debt.”
However, not all debts are dischargeable under bankruptcy law. Darjean’s attorneys contend that the debt is tied to a “willful and malicious injury,” an exception that could prevent it from being erased. Whether Sanders acted “willfully and maliciously” is now the key question heading toward a possible trial.
Sanders disputes Darjean’s claims and says he acted in self-defense. Darjean’s subpoenas are aimed at gathering evidence to support his argument before the trial.
Dallas police records state, “On September 17, 2015, at about 11:55 AM, Dallas police responded to a call for service in the 2500 block of W Ledbetter Drive. The preliminary investigation determined that a security officer and a teen were in an argument when the teen hit the security officer.”
The day after, Sanders was involved in another incident and taken to a juvenile detention center. Darjean later underwent spinal surgery. Records also show that the school suspended Darjean pending review but later reinstated him, stating, “Video evidence supports your statement and the statement of the nearest employee in the area.”
If Darjean proves his case, Sanders will be responsible for the full $11.89 million. If not, the debt could be discharged, offering Sanders financial relief as he begins his professional career, potentially earning $840,000 in his rookie season.
