Shedeur Sanders took the field once again as the Cleveland Browns’ starting quarterback on Sunday, continuing his rookie campaign under center. And while the matchup against the Buffalo Bills carried weight on the field, there was a notable moment off it that caught plenty of attention - a pregame sideline conversation between Shedeur and his father, Deion Sanders.
Deion, who coached Shedeur at both Jackson State and Colorado, was in attendance at the game and made his presence felt before kickoff. Cameras caught a heartfelt exchange between father and son, with the Hall of Famer offering a pregame pep talk.
Standing shoulder to shoulder, Deion held Shedeur by the pads, looked him in the eye, and gave him a few final words of encouragement - capped off with a pat on the helmet. It was the kind of moment that speaks volumes about their bond, both as coach and quarterback, and as father and son.
And if you believe in the power of motivation, well, it sure looked like the message landed. Shedeur came out firing, starting the game a perfect 5-for-5 for 31 yards and a touchdown - a sharp, efficient opening drive that showed poise and confidence well beyond his years. For a rookie quarterback still finding his footing in the NFL, it was exactly the kind of start the Browns were hoping to see.
Of course, Buffalo wasn’t going to roll over. The Bills answered back with a drive of their own, capped by a James Cook rushing touchdown to even things up at 7-7. But the early composure from Shedeur, especially under the spotlight and with his father watching, was an encouraging sign for Cleveland fans.
There’s still a long way to go in this one, but if this early glimpse is any indication, Shedeur Sanders is settling into his role - and doing it with the kind of calm and command that’s hard to teach. Having a Hall of Fame dad in your corner doesn’t hurt either.