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Shedeur Sanders named to Pro Bowl.
The Cleveland Browns hired Todd Monken as their new head coach, and quarterback Shedeur Sanders is happy with the move.
Monken is an offensive-minded head coach, as he was the Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator last season. Monken will look to bring the best out of the Browns’ offense, and one of the biggest question marks is who will be the team’s quarterback.
Sanders will be in the running for the starting job, as he already met Monken and said he got a great vibe from him.
“It’s truly great that he was able to coach Lamar (Jackson) and he was able to accomplish everything he was able to accomplish in his life and his career,” Sanders said at the Pro Bowl. “I feel like we definitely have a connection just from talking to him, just seeing his vibe. He has a great vibe about him.”
Monken also admitted he wanted the Ravens to draft Sanders, so perhaps that is a good sign for Sanders to be the team’s quarterback in 2026.
Sanders finished the year throwing for 1,400 yards, 7 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions, with mixed results.
Sanders Admits he Was Surprised by Pro Bowl Nod
Although Sanders didn’t even start until the second half of the season, he was named to the Pro Bowl.
Due to injuries and other quarterbacks turning it down, Sanders was named to the Pro Bowl, which caught the Browns QB by surprise.
“Yes, I was surprised,” Sanders said. … I just didn’t have too much thought in it. I’m not going to lie, a lot of the time I’m taking it day by day. … If you would tell me that this was going to happen at the beginning of the year, I couldn’t say that that would’ve happened.”
Sanders, meanwhile, said he’s just honored to be here and learn from so many star players.
“It’s amazing. I’m truly thankful for it,” he said. “I just come in here and I’m like ‘dang, I really get to be around all these great guys and great coaches.’ It’s surreal. … I just told all of them ‘oh, you’re in that slot? Oh you’re outside? You’re at running back? You’re snapping the ball?’ I say that to all of them. … They’re on my team.”
Whether or not Sanders will be able to parlay this experience into winning the Browns’ starting job in 2026 is to be seen. But, it’s no doubt some valuable experience for the young quarterback who is still very much learning on the job.
Browns HC Sent Message to Sanders
After Cleveland officially hired Monken as their next head coach, he sent a clear message to Sanders.
The Browns posted a clip on social media of Sanders and Monken meeting for the first time. Their, Monken said, Sanders was someone he wanted to draft last year in Baltimore.
“We tried to draft your ass last year for God’s sake,” Monken said. “It’s all worked out. You remember that, right? Someday we’ll get a chance to talk about that.”
It’s a positive message to Sanders as the coach sees something in him.
Cole Shelton Cole Shelton covers the NHL, MLB and Cleveland Browns for Heavy.com. He has covered pro and college sports since 2016, including bylines at BJ Penn, USA Today, SB Nation, Rotowire, Canadian Baseball Network and more. More about Cole Shelton
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