Shedeur Sanders, a highly touted quarterback prospect and son of NFL Hall of Famer Deion Sanders, expressed his gratitude over the weekend toward former President Donald Trump for offering public support during his unexpected slide in the 2025 NFL Draft. The younger Sanders, who played college football at the University of Colorado, was ultimately selected by the Cleveland Browns in the fifth round, a significant departure from earlier projections that had him as a possible first-round pick.
Speaking to reporters at the Browns’ rookie minicamp on Saturday, Sanders addressed Trump’s comments, which had been posted during the draft on April 25 through the former president’s Truth Social platform. “I was truly thankful for it,” Sanders said. “Including him, there were a lot of fans, a lot of people in barbershops, a lot of hairstylists. A lot of fans of me, my craft and my family that were there in support. I was thankful that I have that foundation.”
Epic. Recently drafted Browns QB Shedeur Sanders thanks President Trump for supporting him during the Draft.
pic.twitter.com/wvVtzHGUMI— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) May 10, 2025
Trump’s post, written as Sanders remained undrafted well into the later rounds, questioned the judgment of NFL team executives, stating: “What is wrong with NFL owners, are they STUPID? Deion Sanders was a great college football player, and was even greater in the NFL. He’s also a very good coach, streetwise and smart! Therefore, Shedeur, his quarterback son, has PHENOMENAL GENES, and is all set for Greatness. He should be ‘picked’ IMMEDIATELY by a team that wants to WIN.”
President Trump puts NFL teams on blast for not drafting Shedeur Sanders
“Are y’all stupid??” pic.twitter.com/bSjsYH7QMb
— SAY CHEESE! 👄🧀 (@SaycheeseDGTL) April 25, 2025
Sanders’ draft position became one of the most talked-about stories during this year’s NFL Draft, with many analysts noting his productivity, arm strength, and leadership at Colorado, where he played under his father. His eventual selection by the Browns placed him in a crowded quarterback room that includes veterans Deshaun Watson, Joe Flacco, and Kenny Pickett, as well as third-round pick Dillon Gabriel out of Oregon. Sanders will be part of the competition for depth chart placement heading into training camp and the preseason.
Trump further discussed his decision to speak out in an interview with radio host Hugh Hewitt. He cited both a personal connection with Deion Sanders and an admiration for Shedeur’s athletic potential. “His father is a big Trump fan, and I like it when people are Trump fans. His father has said great things about me over the years,” Trump said. “No 2, genetics. He has good genes for a football player. I watched him play for a little bit, and I thought he was a really talented quarterback. I like his gene pool, and I like his talent. I really think he’s going to do well. I just felt they treated him really badly.”
Meanwhile, over at the WNBA:
WNBA player Paige Bueckers: “As a white, I want to shed light on black players” pic.twitter.com/NDAFZF0AqE
— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) May 6, 2025
The Browns’ coaching staff has not indicated how they plan to divide reps among the quarterbacks heading into the 2025 season, but Sanders will have the opportunity to earn playing time and showcase his skills at the professional level. His path to the NFL, while different from expectations, has brought significant media attention and support from both sports figures and political personalities.
