Deion Sanders admits son Shedeur's NFL draft slide 'hurt'

USA Today

2 days ago

Deion Sanders admits son Shedeur's NFL draft slide 'hurt'
Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders has openly expressed his disappointment over how his son, Shedeur Sanders, was treated during the lead-up to the 2025 NFL draft.
Despite being a projected first-round pick, Sanders fell to the fifth round, selected No. 144 by the Cleveland Browns. The elder Sanders attributes the unexpected slide to what he describes as "foolish stuff" and baseless criticisms that emerged during the pre-draft period.
One significant point of contention was a report suggesting that the former Colorado quarterback performed poorly in interviews, with specific reporting saying Sanders was unprepared.
"When you sit up there and say something like he went into a meeting unprepared, like dude, Shedeur Sanders, who's had six different coordinators?" Deion Sanders said on Asante Samuel's podcast last Friday.
Deion also said that his son would never wear headphones into a meeting, as one rumor said.
"You gonna tell me he had on headphones, Shedeur?" Sanders asked. "Anybody know my son understands he's a professional? Like he's gonna go into a meeting with headphones on?"
Sanders admitted that the draft slide and everything that followed were not a comfortable feeling, and how the criticisms took an emotional toll on their family. He shared that although the adverse reports hurt, he believes they have instilled a necessary edge in Shedeur, comparing it to the motivation that drove players like Tom Brady, one of his son's most significant mentors.
"It did hurt," Sanders said. "It did hurt. But the Bible says God uses the foolish things to confound the wise. There was some foolish stuff that went on, but you know what? That gave them something that they needed. Like that edge that Tom had."
Since the NFL draft, Sanders has avoided the media spotlight that is typically always surrounding the CU head coach. After appearing on Samuel's podcast, it seems like the lack of media was no accident, as Sanders suggested it was related to a health issue.
"What I'm dealing with right now is at a whole nother level," Sanders said while stating he is coming back after losing nearly 14 pounds.
The Buffaloes begin Sanders' third season Aug. 29 at home against Georgia Tech, which should be in front of a packed Folsom Field with season tickets already sold out.
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