Shedeur Sanders Reveals the Magic Mantra His Mentor Told Him to Succeed in NFL

Shedeur Sanders has had a rough debut season in the NFL with the Cleveland Browns.

Shedeur Sanders Reveals the Magic Mantra His Mentor Told Him to Succeed in NFL

Shedeur Sanders and Jameis Winston (Image vi a IMAGO)

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Shedeur Sanders received valuable guidance amid a tough start to life in the NFL. The Cleveland Browns quarterback is 1-4 as the starter after following a humiliating loss against the Chicago Bears in week 15.

Sanders completed 18 passes from 35 attempts for 177 yards, zero touchdowns, 3 interceptions, and a 30.3 passer rating. Pro Football Focus graded Sanders’ performance 33.2 (one of the lowest among active quarterbacks in 2025).

The Bears won 31-3, eliminating the Browns from playoff contention. Despite the disappointing result, Sanders is only taking positives from the experience. He wants to use that knowledge and end the season on a high note.

To do that, the fifth-round rookie quarterback enlisted the help of a consummate professional, Jameis Winston. Sanders sought veteran wisdom from the New York Giants signal caller. He realized that numbers mean nothing if the team ends up losing the game. So, wins matter above anything else. Sanders said, via Ashley Holder of Cleveland media:

I’m not really looking at the numbers, I’m looking at the wins, you know, so that achieves everything… I talked to Jameis [Winston of the Giants] like a couple [of] weeks ago, and then, he went crazy, he threw for some crazy yards, and he was like, ‘Nah, bro…The most important thing is to win.

That doesn’t mean he wasn’t aware that he plays a sport that values wins above anything else. He’s the son of Pro Football Hall of Famer Deion Sanders, who won two Super Bowls during his playing days. Nevertheless, Winston’s words provided him with the clarity and insight needed to determine his course of action. He added:

Winning is the final goal. You have to focus on that. The more plays you stack and the more completions you rack up, the better chance you have of winning.

Shedeur Sanders promises to improve his game ahead of facing the Bills

Two areas of Sanders’ game have bugged him since setting foot on an NFL field. His interception record (6) and the number of sacks he takes each game—he was sacked 13 times in five appearances.

Shedeur Sanders Reveals the Magic Mantra His Mentor Told Him to Succeed in NFL
Shedeur Sanders (Image via IMAGO)

To be fair, he’s still a rookie who only took first-team snaps in his debut in the week 11 loss to the Ravens. Sanders has come a long way since then. With Dillon Gabriel on the concussion protocol, he will continue as the Browns QB1. And he must win games to cement his position as the starter beyond the current year. To do that, Sanders must reduce the number of turnovers.

I just gotta play better. I just can’t make those costly turnovers and have the expectation to win. I just gotta get more completions.

Sanders is on the precipice of reaching 1000 rookie passing yards. He has thrown for 946 yards on 72 completions and 5 touchdown passes. His skills and composure will be put to the test in the Bills game. The Bills are 7.5-point favorites with Josh Allen leading the pack.

Allen anchored five touchdowns in a come-from-behind victory against the 11-.3 New England Patriots. The reigning NFL MVP has 37 combined touchdowns, 3276 passing yards, 70% pass completion rate in 14 starts for the Bills.

Allen is 1-1 against the Browns in his career. In a 2022 fixture, he threw for 197 yards and 1 touchdown. However, the Browns lead the series 13-10, including a win in the playoffs.

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