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Shedeur Sanders is approaching a pivotal point in his career. Now that he's finally in the NFL, training with the Cleveland Browns, some analysts believe it's time for the young quarterback to step out from under the shadow of his father, Deion Sanders, although it won't be easy.
"Coach Prime" Sanders has been immovable in his children's lives and careers. Beyond being his father, Deion has been the only coach Shedeur has ever known. From his playing days at Trinity Christian High School to his stellar senior year with Colorado, Deion has been the one calling the plays and the shots for Shedeur.
Deion monitored Shedeur's every step leading up to the 2025 NFL Draft, even attending his son's interviews with teams via video conference. Now, NFL Network analyst Andrea Kremer fears that could happen again with the Browns, complicating Shedeur's adaptation process and the work of head coach Kevin Stefanski.
Deion must step back
On a recent episode of Good Morning Football, Kremer itted, "Deion will be Deion. Obviously, we know he's the only coach Shedeur has ever had at any level. But right now, if he's going to rise from fifth-round pick status in a very crowded quarterback room in Cleveland, he needs to focus on himself."
Kremer recalled that Deion was a teammate of Cleveland quarterbacks coach Bill Musgrave and considered that there is a strong possibility that Coach Prime would his old friend at some point to discuss "certain things" about his son, complicating the work of the entire coaching staff.
In a direct message to the Buffaloes coach, the analyst said, "In my opinion, Deion, do what's best for your kid, prove it on his own. Don't make things more difficult for him, for Kevin Stefanski, and the new offensive coordinator, Tommy Reese."
What is Shedeur's situation in Cleveland?
The Browns' quarterback room is one of the most closely scrutinized in the NFL. Stefanski has four active QBs: Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, third-round pick Dillon Gabriel, and Sanders. That's not counting Deshaun Watson, who will likely miss the entire 2025 season due to an injured Achilles tendon.
The Browns' OTAs showed Sanders has the talent to run the offense, but Flacco and Pickett are Stefanski's chosen players to compete for the starting job. Gabriel, meanwhile, has also shown good movements, complicating Shedeur's path.
Some analysts believe Shedeur will eventually take over Cleveland's offense, while others think he'll end up as the third or fourth in line. Mandatory practices, which are about to begin, will further clarify Shedeur's fate and his relationship with Coach Prime.