It only took one start for Shedeur Sanders to dominate the headlines in the NFL world.
Sanders completed 11-of-20 pass attempts for 209 yards with a touchdown and an interception in the Cleveland Browns‘ victory over the Las Vegas Raiders. The former fifth-round pick from Colorado delivered a warning to his critics immediately after the game went final.
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“I think I showed a couple of great pieces, and there’s some things I wish I could get back,” Sanders said. “But man, a win is crazy. It’s amazing. You know? Off of one week of practice. This is one week of practice! So imagine what a full offseason look like! It get dangerous!”
While some people, like former Browns coach Eric Mangini, want Sanders to be a bit more humble, there are others who love how he goes about himself.
Oct 26, 2025; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders (12) looks on during warm up prior to the game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images
Compared to a former president.
Believe it or not, ESPN’s Kendrick Perkins mentioned Sanders in the same sentence as former President Barack Obama.
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“Shedeur Sanders is the most powerful Black man since 2009,” Perkins said. “You know what happened in 2009? That’s when President (Barack) Obama got elected in office. He’s the most powerful Black man since 2009.”
Perkins wasn’t done praising the son of Deion Sanders.
“You got the Black community. He’s bringing the whole Black community together. I ain’t ran across one Black person that done said one bad thing about Shedeur. That’s because he has the balance. He has the balance of that I’m arrogant, but I’m humble too. He’s having fun with this. He’s the most powerful Black man in sports. As a matter of fact, he’s the most powerful player in sports.”
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That’s high praise for Sanders. We’ll see if he validates Perkins’ comments this Sunday when he takes on the San Francisco 49ers.
This story was originally published by The Spun on Nov 25, 2025, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add The Spun as a Preferred Source by clicking here.