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Shedeur Sanders’ NFL career got off to a roller coaster start, but one man was by his side from start to finish.
As Sanders fell in the NFL draft, President Donald Trump called NFL owners “stupid” for abandoning him. After scoring a victory in his first start Sunday, Trump gave them an “I told you so.”
The 23-year-old took note of the president’s support.
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President Donald Trump has supported Shedeur Sanders since he fell behind in the NFL draft. (Associated Press)
“He’s definitely been a supporter for a while, so I’m just grateful, even for taking the time to be able to speak out, for his support,” Sanders told reporters Wednesday.
Sanders finished 11 of 20 for 209 yards and a touchdown pass in the 24-10 win over the Las Vegas Raiders. He threw an impressive pass to Isaiah Bond, who set up the score early in the game. He then completed a 66-yard touchdown pass to Dylan Sampson that started as a drop-off.
“Shedeur Sanders was GREAT. He won his first match and started his career as a pro (for Cleveland). Great genes. I TOLD YOU SO!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Sanders was a fifth-round pick for the Browns after being considered one of the best quarterbacks available. In April, the president was among those baffled by his fall.
Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders answers a question during a news conference after an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens in Cleveland, Ohio, Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
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“What is wrong with the NFL owners, are they STUPID? Deion Sanders was a great college football player, and was even greater in the NFL. He is also a very good coach, savvy and intelligent! Therefore, Shedeur, his quarterback son, has PHENOMENAL GENES and is poised for greatness,” Trump wrote on Truth Social at the time.
Sanders also said he was “really grateful” for Trump’s support in May.
Sanders began the season as the third-string quarterback behind Joe Flacco and Dillon Gabriel. The Browns traded Flacco to the Cincinnati Bengals before deciding to start Gabriel. However, the former Oregon star suffered a concussion in last week’s game, opening the door for Sanders.
Gabriel agreed to the concussion protocol, but the Browns announced the job now fell to Sanders.
Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders (12) throws the ball against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium on November 23, 2025. (Kirby Lee/Imagn Images)
“Everybody starts in different places. Like I said, just because I didn’t have the summer rehearsals and just because I wasn’t in the best situation to prepare to go out there and perform from a summer standpoint — that’s the way life is,” Sanders said after her performance. “Not everyone is in the best situation. But that’s no excuse. I have to go out there and play. There’s no choice. There’s no doubt.”
“Nobody cares if it was a week of preparation. Who cares? So a lot of people want to see me fail – it’s not going to happen. It’s not going to happen,” he added.
The Browns play San Francisco 49ers next week.
