NFL legend Michael Irvin defends Shedeur Sanders after NFL draft snub: "This sh*t is shady"
Photo byfor ONIT
The NFL Draft is supposed to be a celebration of dreams realized. But for
Shedeur Sanders
, it's turned into a long, painful wait. Instead of following in his father Deion's footsteps—who dominated the 1989 draft scene with unmatched confidence—Shedeur sat in his draft suite, cameras rolling, forced to smile through disappointment. Round after round, night after night, the pick never came. And now,
NFL legend
Michael Irvin has broken his silence, sounding the alarm with a message that's hard to ignore: something smells
shady
about Shedeur's shocking slide.
Michael Irvin accuses NFL franchises of passing on Shedeur Sanders for non-football reasons
Michael Irvin
didn't hold back when speaking on
Shedeur Sanders
' shocking freefall through the 2025 NFL Draft. The Hall of Famer and longtime family friend didn't mince words: 'The NFL, for me, already — this looks funny. This looks fishy. I am sorry,' Irvin said, voice heavy with frustration.
To Irvin, it's personal. Football was the ticket that lifted him out of poverty and into greatness. 'I told you how much I love and respect [football] because it gives a brother like me — a young brother that had nothing — an opportunity to get out… How can you not love so much that thing that brought you out of a hellhole and gave you a life?'
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Irvin laid out the facts: Shedeur wasn't lacking production. He passed for over 4,000 yards, tossed 27 touchdowns, and carried himself with leadership teams should be dying to have under center. 'We can't talk about, 'well he didn't get enough play,' because he threw for 4,000 yards. We can't talk about, 'well he didn't make enough plays'—he was the best player of the year. Nor can we say, 'Well it's not a position of need'—he plays quarterback,' Irvin argued passionately.
Taking it a step further, Irvin dove into the scouting details: 'I never, in all my time of watching this young man, saw him snap that ball on one hash and dirt a long out to the other hash. That ball always got out there. Always.'
Still, despite the tape, despite the numbers, Shedeur sits waiting. Reports hint that teams are worried about his "coachability," his "entourage," and the media frenzy he would naturally bring. In a league that still expects backup QBs to be invisible, Shedeur's larger-than-life presence may have worked against him.
Also Read:
Why the Pittsburgh Steelers passed on Shedeur Sanders: Mike Tomlin's shocking draft decision explained
As Day 3 looms, the question grows louder: is Shedeur Sanders being judged for his game—or for the brand he represents?
Michael Irvin
believes it's clear: 'This sh*t is shady. This is shady.' Now, all Shedeur can do is stay patient, stay poised, and wait for the one team brave enough to see the player—not just the spotlight.
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