When Sanders’ name finally flashed across the screen on Day 3 of the 2025 NFL Draft, it was a joyous occasion down at the Prime compound in Texas. After being selected No. 144 overall by the Cleveland Browns, the sports world reacted with an array of emotions. But no one took the moment harder than his father, Deion Sanders. According to Skip Bayless, the Hall-of-Fame wept over what he believed was his own role in his son’s painful fall.
“That’s why Deion cried after the draft because he realized he’d just talked too much, too positively much, about his son’s potential greatness; that he, Deion, inspired too much jealousy and too much resentment and that that he helped put his son through a three-day ringer of shame,” Bayless shared on his podcast.
Sources close to the Sanders family told Bayless that Deion had not shed a single tear since his previously revealed suicide attempt in 1997.
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The Colorado Buffaloes head coach, who is known to be overly confident and often provides controversial soundbites, watched his son go from projected first-round pick to fifth-round afterthought.
Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders with son and quarterback Shedeur Sanders (2) against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Mountain America Stadium.Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Deion believes the fall wasn’t about Shedeur’s talent, but about the other outside noise, according to Bayless. He pointed to Deion’s now-infamous interview with Dan Patrick, where he hinted that Shedeur was unwilling to play for certain teams. The implication? That he’d try to “navigate” Shedeur to a preferred destination, just like Archie Manning once did for Eli in the 2004 NFL Draft.
“Deion indicated he’d go Archie Manning on the draft,” Bayless said. “That interview — those comments — turned the NFL against them. That was the moment the league said, ‘Watch this, Deion.’”
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Coach Prime’s larger-than-life personality, Bayless argued, may have inspired resentment among decision-makers.
“Anything Deion says hits with 10 tons more impact than any other coach— college or pro,” Bayless added. “And when he compared himself to the Mannings, the NFL wasn’t having it.”
Related: Deion Sanders turns heads by welcoming back castaway transfer at Colorado
Despite the setback, Shedeur joins a Browns roster desperate for quarterback depth. With his father by his side, don’t count out a comeback storyline worthy of a Hollywood script when all is said and done.
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