Shedeur Sanders Shines in Pro Bowl Debut, Makes Colorado History
SAN FRANCISCO - Under the bright lights of the Pro Bowl stage, Shedeur Sanders made sure his first appearance in the NFL’s annual all-star showcase was one to remember. The rookie quarterback out of Colorado delivered a pair of touchdown passes and added a two-point conversion in a fast-paced flag football shootout, as the AFC fell to the NFC, 66-52, at Moscone Center.
While the final score didn’t swing in his favor, Sanders’ performance turned heads - and not just because of the numbers. He showed command, confidence, and a smooth rhythm in a format that demands quick decisions and pinpoint accuracy.
The Pro Bowl’s flag football rules may strip away the pads, but they also spotlight pure quarterbacking instincts. Sanders passed that test with flying colors.
This wasn’t just a strong showing - it was a historic one.
Sanders became the first Colorado quarterback to ever start a Pro Bowl, and the first former Buffaloes signal-caller to appear in the event since Kordell Stewart back in 2001. That’s a 25-year gap between Pro Bowl appearances for CU quarterbacks - and Sanders broke the drought with style.
Even more, he marked the first appearance by any Colorado player in the Pro Bowl since 2020, when offensive lineman David Bakhtiari made the last of his three trips to the game. That’s a significant milestone for a program looking to reestablish its presence on the NFL map.
And Sanders is doing it early. He’s the first rookie from Colorado to earn a Pro Bowl nod since Phillip Lindsay in 2018 - a year when Lindsay made history as the first undrafted offensive rookie to ever make the Pro Bowl. That’s the kind of company Sanders now keeps.
Throughout the game, Sanders operated with the kind of poise that belied his rookie status. The flag football format, with its rapid tempo and condensed field, can be a challenge for quarterbacks used to the traditional 11-on-11 grind. But Sanders looked comfortable, delivering scoring strikes and keeping the AFC offense humming during a first half that saw them build a sizable lead.
The NFC, however, flipped the script after halftime, erasing an 18-point deficit with a second-half surge to take the win. But even in defeat, Sanders’ performance stood out - not just for the stats, but for the way he energized the offense and embraced the moment.
With this appearance, Sanders becomes the 19th different Colorado player to suit up in a Pro Bowl, contributing to what is now the 41st overall Pro Bowl appearance by a former Buffalo. That’s a legacy-building moment - not just for Sanders, but for the program he represents.
In a game built for highlights, Sanders delivered. And if Tuesday night is any indication, this might just be the first of many all-star appearances for the young quarterback who’s already making his mark on the league.