Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders made his long-awaited NFL debut Sunday when starter Dillon Gabriel was sidelined with a concussion. Sanders played the entire second half in a 23-16 loss to the Baltimore Ravens, completing 4 of 16 passes for 47 yards.
It wasn’t the debut Sanders hoped for, but his family was moved by seeing him get his first pro opportunity. Deion Sanders was working at a coaching clinic in Boulder, Colo., on Sunday when he got a call from his son Deion Jr.
“I was in tears,” Deion said in an interview at the clinic. “(He) called me screaming, ‘Man, I’m crying right now! Can you leave me alone? Leave me alone, leave me alone.’”
Shedeur played for his dad at Colorado in 2023 and 2024. He earned Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year honors last season, throwing for over 4,100 yards and 37 touchdowns.
After the Browns selected Shedeur in the fifth round in 2025, he was behind Joe Flacco and Gabriel on the quarterback depth chart early in the season. When Flacco was traded to the Cincinnati Bengals, Gabriel became the starter, and he served in that role for the last six games.
While at the clinic Sunday, young fans had a chance to ask Deion questions, which led to a funny inquiry from a young girl.
“Would you want Shedeur Sanders to be on any other team?” she asked, sending the room into laughter.
“You’re trying to take me viral,” Deion said with a look at the camera. “I’m going to stay away from that one. That’s a good one.”
The microphone later circled back to the girl, after Deion jokingly asked why she would bring up that question.
“I just wanted to get your opinion,” she said.
“Wow, is she cute,” Deion responded. “I meet with the media Tuesday. Can you come with me?”
Cleveland travels to Las Vegas to face the Raiders on Sunday. Head coach Kevin Stefanski announced after Sunday’s game that Gabriel will start if he clears concussion protocol. If not, Shedeur will make his first NFL start as his replacement.