The 2025 NFL Draft delivered plenty of surprises, but few storylines rivaled the stunning slide of Shedeur Sanders, who was expected by many to be a top-tier quarterback pick. What began as a sports headline quickly spiraled into a full-blown cultural flashpoint—complete with accusations of racial bias, political commentary, and media firestorms. Through it all, one group notably stayed silent on the speculation: the Sanders family, who leaned not into outrage, but into faith and celebration.
Sanders, son of NFL legend and University of Colorado head coach Deion Sanders, watched the first rounds of the draft tick by without hearing his name. As the hours passed, so did the spotlight shift—from scouting reports and offensive schemes to national debates about race, image, and identity in American sports.
Stephen A. Smith, ESPN’s outspoken commentator, added fuel to the fire when he posted a text from an associate comparing Sanders’ draft slide to the blackballing of Colin Kaepernick. “This is Kaepernick-level collusion,” the message read, and Smith agreed, stating the slide went “beyond talent evaluation.”
He makes a great point. It’s high time that the NFL finally gives a young black man a shot. https://t.co/RhntUyH1pJ
— Matt Walsh (@MattWalshBlog) April 25, 2025
Smith’s comments were met with immediate pushback. Dave Portnoy, founder of Barstool Sports, dismissed the claim as “insane,” arguing that NFL owners are too competitive to collude against talent, especially one as visible and hyped as Shedeur. “The first pick was a Black QB,” Portnoy noted. “If teams thought Shedeur could help them win, they’d take him. Period.”
Others, including former Rep. Jamaal Bowman, waded in with far more aggressive claims. Bowman argued that America “fears strong Black men,” suggesting that Sanders’ personality, fashion, and confidence were at odds with NFL culture. Bowman even invoked double standards, comparing Sanders’ swagger to Eli Manning’s 2004 draft-day power play. Critics quickly pointed to community notes clarifying the NFL’s recent track record: the last three drafts have all opened with Black quarterbacks.
Amid the partisan crossfire, some media personalities advanced broader cultural critiques. ESPN Radio’s Peter Rosenberg wrote that America’s discomfort with “brash” Black athletes is not new, and that whether or not race played a direct role in Sanders’ draft position, the historical lens can’t be ignored.
Shedeur Sander’s reaction to getting drafted by the Cleveland Browns at pick 144 in the 2025 NFL Draft ❤️ pic.twitter.com/CFR87dob2l
— ryan 🤿 (@scubaryan_) April 26, 2025
Others were less nuanced. A TNT Sports journalist claimed the New York Giants passed on Sanders because “they don’t like Black QBs,” a comment that was quickly refuted with the fact that two Black quarterbacks already sit on the Giants’ roster. Robbie Starbuck, a conservative influencer, echoed a more pragmatic take: “Teams are scared off by the circus, not his race.”
What made the Sanders family’s reaction stand out, however, was their lack of outrage. Throughout the ordeal, they posted Bible verses and expressions of gratitude. When Sanders was finally selected, the family released a joyful home video filled with cheering, hugs, and celebration—not scorn.
