President Donald Trump has expressed his strong support for Shedeur Sanders following the young quarterback’s impressive debut in the NFL. Sanders, who is 23 years old, led the Cleveland Browns to a 24-10 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday, completing 209 passing yards and throwing a notable 66-yard touchdown pass to Dylan Sampson.
Shedeur Sanders, the son of Pro Football Hall of Famer Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders, secured the starting position on November 23 after fellow rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel was placed in concussion protocol due to a head injury sustained during a game against the Baltimore Ravens.
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In his debut, Shedeur recorded one interception and finished the game with a quarterback rating of 87.3. His performance was historic, as he ended the Browns’ streak of 0-17 for quarterbacks making their first career starts since 1995.
Drafted in the fifth round as the 144th pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Shedeur’s selection surprised many, especially since his father, Deion Sanders, had predicted he would be a top-five pick based on his coaching experience at Jackson State and Colorado.
Trump, 79, was a vocal supporter of Shedeur during the controversy surrounding his draft position in April. He criticized NFL owners for selecting five quarterbacks ahead of the 2024 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award winner, including the Browns’ choice of Gabriel at 94th overall in the third round.
On April 25, Trump expressed his thoughts on his Truth Social platform, stating, “What is wrong with NFL owners, are they STUPID? Deion Sanders was a great college football player, and was even greater in the NFL. He’s also a very good coach, streetwise and smart!” He continued, “Therefore, Shedeur, his quarterback son, has PHENOMENAL GENES, and is all set for Greatness. He should be ‘picked’ IMMEDIATELY by a team that wants to WIN. Good luck, Shedeur, and say hello to your wonderful father!”
Following Shedeur’s successful debut on November 24, Trump returned to Truth Social to commend him, stating, “Shedeur Sanders was GREAT. Wins first game, career start, as a pro (for Cleveland). Great Genes. I TOLD YOU SO!”
While Trump often attracts controversy, his support for Shedeur received mixed reactions. Some users on social media offered backhanded compliments, with one stating, “The only truth he has EVER told.” Another remarked, “Did not have me and Trump agreeing on something on my 2025 bingo card.”
Conversely, some commenters were skeptical of Trump’s praise, with one user labeling it “Narcissism 101” and another warning, “Oh lord, he done curse the child.”
Criticism also arose regarding Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski’s apparent lack of confidence in Shedeur as the starting quarterback. One observer noted, “The fact the president praises you, and your own coach doesn’t… like what are we doing here?”
Stefanski, 43, faced scrutiny after he declined to confirm whether Shedeur would continue as the starter for the upcoming Week 13 game against the San Francisco 49ers. When asked about Shedeur’s status on November 30, he stated, “I’m not going to get into that. Obviously, proud of him and proud of this offense, and there are a ton of things to learn from, but I’m just going to worry about today.”
However, the following day, Stefanski announced that Shedeur would indeed be the starter for the upcoming game.
Footage from the locker room after Cleveland’s latest win sparked further criticism of Stefanski. Despite Shedeur’s significant contribution to the team’s success, the coach’s acknowledgment of him was minimal. Stefanski remarked, “Another rookie making his first start, nice job, Shedeur,” after recognizing several other players.
Comments on social media reflected frustration with Stefanski’s demeanor, with one user stating, “They hate this man so much,” and another claiming, “Because he don’t like the kid. Poor excuse for a coach. Taste.”
Former NFL player and media personality Shannon Sharpe criticized Stefanski for not giving Shedeur more recognition in front of his teammates. On his “Nightcap” podcast, Sharpe said, “I understand Stefanski wants Dillon Gabriel, but you got to understand the guy now is the best for you and is going to give you the best opportunity to win. Because he is unafraid to push the ball down the field.” He added, “This notion that this thing is even close, this notion that was just a ho-hum performance… And he does that on the road in a hostile environment, and all you got for him is that?”
After his first NFL victory, Shedeur addressed his critics in a media interview, stating, “A lot of people want to see me fail. It ain’t gonna happen. It ain’t gonna happen.”
Trump’s relationship with the NFL has been contentious, particularly following his comments regarding former 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s protests during the national anthem in 2016. Recently, fans of the Washington Commanders expressed their disapproval of Trump by booing him when his image appeared on the screen during a home game against the Detroit Lions on November 9.
