Through the first six weeks of the 2025 season, the focus in the Sanders family has been on second-generation quarterback Shedeur Sanders. Projected to be a first-round pick, he fell all the way to the fifth round of the draft. Taken by the Cleveland Browns, he has been embroiled in a quarterback battle since then, with an elevation to the QB2 room coming for the first time in Week 6.
But Shedeur wasn’t the only member of the Sanders family trying to make it to the NFL from the 2025 draft class. Safety Shilo Sanders, who was with his brother and father, Deion Sanders, on their legendary run through Jackson State and Colorado, also had a shot at making an active roster after being signed as an undrafted free agent. Ultimately, he did not make the cut, and it seems to have affected his availability in Madden NFL 26.
Is Shilo Sanders on Madden NFL 26?
Starting his collegiate career with the South Carolina Gamecocks, he barely got off the ground before transferring to Jackson State in 2021, where Deion was taking over as the new head coach and Shedeur was assuming quarterback duties.
Following their trajectory, the trio moved as a unit, staying with the Tigers for two years before switching to the Colorado Buffaloes. As the program went through a dynamic turnaround under Sanders’ stewardship, Shilo also had a role to play on the team.
However, he did not do enough to convince teams across the NFL to take him in the draft. Instead, it was Tampa Bay that took a swing by signing him as an undrafted free agent to its practice squad.
Staying on the team through preseason, he even logged a few nifty games for the Buccaneers. However, he was ejected from their preseason matchup against the Buffalo Bills for taking a swing and punching tight end Zach Davidson after a play.
Immediately called out by head coach Todd Bowles, who claimed the punch was “inexcusable,” he was waived three days later before being fined $4,699 for his conduct. His removal, though, seemed to have been from more than just the Tampa Bay roster.
A viral post on X by Dov Kleiman, which has amassed nearly 120,000 views, claimed rookie safety Shilo Sanders has been removed from Madden 26.
Heartbreaking: Free-agent star rookie safety Shilo Sanders has been REMOVED from Madden 26.
Many teams can use a talent like Shilo.
Which NFL team should take a chance on him? pic.twitter.com/bx0XqjSKbr
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) October 16, 2025
However, some digging seems to have revealed a different picture.
While not on any active rosters, mirroring how the season is going, Shilo is indeed part of Madden NFL 26, featured in the free agents section.
Rated a paltry 63, he is far from a game-changing talent in the game, but as a potential depth piece for a team in real life, his pedigree could be attractive to a desperate organization.