In a twist that few saw coming, Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders has been named a Pro Bowl alternate, stepping in for New England Patriots standout Drake Maye, who’s headed to Super Bowl LX.
The move raised plenty of eyebrows across the league - and even more so on social media, where fans didn’t hold back. Sanders, after all, played only half the season and struggled statistically, finishing near the bottom in most major quarterback categories. With names like Trevor Lawrence, Aaron Rodgers, Lamar Jackson, and even fellow rookie Cam Ward still on the board, the league’s decision to tab Sanders caught a lot of folks off guard.
But here’s the thing: Sanders didn’t ask for this. And to his credit, he handled the moment with humility and appreciation.
“Thank you God. I’m beyond excited and extremely grateful for all the love and support from the coaches, players, and fans,” Sanders said in a statement.
“This wouldn’t be possible without the support behind me. Still plenty of work to do.”
That last line - “Still plenty of work to do” - says a lot. Sanders knows he didn’t light the league on fire in Year 1.
He knows this honor is more about potential and marketability than production. But he’s not pretending otherwise, and that kind of self-awareness is something you want to see from a young quarterback trying to find his footing in the NFL.
Let’s be real: Sanders moves the needle. He’s a headline magnet, and the NFL knows it.
The Pro Bowl, once a marquee event, has struggled for relevance in recent years. If putting a polarizing rookie with a famous last name on the roster gets people talking, the league will take that trade-off every time.
That said, Sanders’ journey to this point hasn’t been without friction. His confidence - some might call it swagger - has rubbed some fans and analysts the wrong way.
But no one’s questioned his work ethic. And while his rookie campaign left a lot to be desired on the field, he’s shown flashes of the poise and arm talent that made him a star at Colorado.
The leap to the NFL is steep, especially for a quarterback, and Sanders is still climbing.
Now, with this Pro Bowl nod, he joins a short and exclusive list of Browns quarterbacks to earn the honor. The last one to do it?
Derek Anderson back in 2007. Before that, it was names like Bernie Kosar, Brian Sipe, Frank Ryan, and the legendary Otto Graham.
Sanders is now part of that lineage - a surprising addition, sure, but a part of it nonetheless.
What comes next for Sanders is still up in the air. A new coaching staff in Cleveland could shake up the quarterback room.
Whether he’s the Week 1 starter, the backup, or even on another roster entirely, remains to be seen. But if he sticks around, he’ll be playing with something to prove - and that chip on his shoulder might be just what he needs.
For now, Sanders gets a taste of the spotlight in a setting that’s more celebration than competition. But if he uses this as fuel, if he channels the criticism into growth, this Pro Bowl appearance might not be his last - and next time, he’ll want to earn it the hard way.