How Deion Sanders May Have Contributed to Shedeur Sanders Falling to the 5th Round

For a long time, the battle for who will be drafted number one in 2025 revolved around quarterbacks Shedeur Sanders and Cam Ward. The weeks leading up to the draft, the narrative slowly shifted against Sanders. He was no longer viewed as the first overall pick. On draft day, Sanders fell out of the top 10 and slipped into the fifth round, where the Cleveland Browns drafted him.

While Sanders’ slip was mostly tied to his poor performances during the private visits to the club facilities, several analysts pointed the finger at Sanders’ father, Deion Sanders, who also coached his son at Jackson State and in Colorado.

Sanders has long stated that he has no intention of coaching in the NFL. He is committed to making Colorado a college powerhouse. But there’s one condition that could sway him to take a coaching job in the NFL. He would only leave college ball for Pro Football if he got the chance to coach his son, Shedeur.

Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk suggested NFL coaches may have been spooked by the possibility that Deion would replace them if they drafted Shedeur, especially those coaches who were on the hot seat.

When you say the only way I would do it is to coach my sons, what are you saying to the eventual head coach of your son? You are saying, ‘Watch your back.’ I understand why he would say now that may have been a factor, because he made it a factor. All he had to say is to not to say that.

Mike Florio said on PFT Live

Shedeur Sanders slid to round five partly because some were worried Deion would try to become the coach of Shedeur's team. pic.twitter.com/a9WpOMUUm9

— PFT Live (@PFT_Live) May 18, 2026

What did Deion Sanders say about Shedeur Sanders’ draft slide?

Sanders recently gave his first Cleveland media interview since the Browns drafted Shedeur. In the roughly 45-minute interview, the host mostly talks about Shedeur’s time with the Browns.

One of the topics Coach Prime shed light on was Shedeur’s draft slide and how his statement about coaching in the NFL may have played a part in it. Deion Sanders admitted that NFL coaches may have misinterpreted his words.

Certain people thought I wanted their [coaching] job. I never wanted their job… I think a couple of people may have thought that. And they thought if they brought him in, it would be that. I guarantee you if you put GMs on a lie detector and ask them that question, that machine’s about to bungee jump.

Deion Sanders said

Why won’t Deion Sanders coach in the NFL?

Sanders played for a long time in the NFL. He won several accolades, including a couple of Super Bowl rings, and was later inducted into the Hall of Fame.  

In the early 2000s, right after retirement, Sanders campaigned to coach the Atlanta Falcons, his first NFL team. However, the owners weren’t sure about it. Over time, Sanders grew a disdain for coaching pro football.

I have a problem with very, very rich men not wanting to do their jobs. So, I know I would go in at halftime and come back out with eleven guys. That’s why I love college football. You can still have an impact because those guys want to get to the pro level so they can make money.

Deion Sanders said

Sanders started his college coaching career at Jackson State. After two years with the Cowboys, he was hired by the Colorado Buffaloes. During his second year in Colorado, the Buffaloes finished 8-4 and played in a Bowl game. Travis Hunter won the Heisman Trophy, and Shedeur won the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award. The following year, the Buffaloes finished with a 3-9 record.

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