Deion Sanders doesn’t do subtle. So when the Colorado head coach posted a motivational message on Instagram this past Sunday-one that called for rising up, taking action, and rejecting mediocrity-it felt less like a general pep talk and more like a pointed response to the noise surrounding his son, Shedeur Sanders.
That noise? A report claiming that several NFL players are keeping their distance from Shedeur at the Pro Bowl Games in San Francisco. According to the report, some Browns teammates believe the rookie quarterback doesn’t deserve his spot on the AFC roster-and they’re making that known by avoiding him altogether.
Shedeur’s Pro Bowl nod came in January after he was named as a replacement for Drake Maye. He joins Joe Burrow and Joe Flacco on the AFC squad.
The selection made headlines not just because of his draft status-he was a fifth-round pick-but because he became the first rookie quarterback drafted that late to make the Pro Bowl since Puka Nacua pulled it off in 2023. That’s rare air.
But not everyone’s buying in. The report suggests that some players are “distancing themselves” from Shedeur, questioning whether he earned the honor or simply benefited from a flawed voting system. And that’s where things get a little more complicated.
The Pro Bowl selection process is split evenly between fans, coaches, and players. That structure, while democratic in theory, has its critics.
One NFC coach reportedly told Sports Illustrated that fan voting has “ruined the Pro Bowl’s credibility.” It’s a sentiment that seems to echo around the league, especially when a young quarterback with modest stats gets the nod over more seasoned names.
Let’s talk about those stats. Shedeur’s rookie year wasn’t exactly Pro Bowl material on paper: seven touchdowns to ten interceptions.
Those numbers raised eyebrows all season and sparked legitimate questions about whether he’s ready to take the reins in Cleveland. The Browns, for their part, just made a coaching change-firing Kevin Stefanski and bringing in Todd Monken.
But Shedeur’s future as the starter is far from guaranteed heading into 2026. The team needs answers at quarterback, and right now, the data doesn’t offer many.
That uncertainty only adds fuel to the current Pro Bowl drama. It’s one thing to question a player’s on-field production. It’s another to see teammates allegedly turning their backs on him at a showcase event meant to celebrate the league’s best.
Deion Sanders, ever the protective father, addressed the situation on the We Got Time Today podcast with Rocsi Diaz. “As a father, you go into protection mode,” he said.
“Like okay, is this good, is this bad, how they gonna spin it.” But instead of firing back at critics or defending Shedeur’s résumé, Deion took a different route.
He reshared the original report on Instagram, then layered on a motivational quote. The message was clear: don’t dwell-respond.
Whether that message was aimed at his son, the league, or the critics is up for interpretation. But one thing’s certain: Deion is staying on-brand. He’s not backing down, and he’s not letting the narrative control the moment.
The Pro Bowl Games kick off Tuesday at the Moscone Center, with Shedeur set to play flag football alongside AFC teammates-some of whom reportedly don’t want him there. It’s a strange backdrop for what’s supposed to be a celebration of the game’s rising stars.
But in the world of Deion and Shedeur Sanders, the spotlight never dims. It just shifts.