Shedeur Sanders has been named to the Pro Bowl as a backup quarterback
Shedeur Sanders made the Pro Bowl.
Let this sink in for a minute.
His father, Hall of Fame cornerback Deion Sanders, made eight Pro Bowls during his 14-year NFL career. But he was only selected in his third season.
Young Sanders just finished his rookie season…for the 5-12 Cleveland Browns.
The former Colorado quarterback was considered a potential high first-round pick for the 2025 draft, but he slipped to the fifth round, where he was selected by Cleveland at 144th overall.
Sanders started the season as a third baseman but eventually became the Browns’ QB1. In eight games played, including seven as a starter, Sanders completed 56.6 percent of his passes for 1,400 yards with seven touchdowns, 10 interceptions and a passer rating of 68.1. He also rushed for a touchdown.
In other words, he wasn’t exactly an elite NFL quarterback.
Still, Sanders is heading to the Bay Area to compete in the 2026 Pro Bowl Games on February 3. He was named to replace New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye, who cannot participate because his team faces the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl LX on February 8.
Sanders is the first Browns quarterback to make the Pro Bowl since Derek Anderson in 2008 and the first rookie quarterback to do so since Maye last year.
Sanders is perhaps the most unexpected selection since Baltimore Ravens backup Tyler Huntley. Huntley made the cut after the 2022 season despite playing in just six games, starting four and throwing for 658 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions.
How did this happen? Here’s what we know.
Pro Bowl selections are determined equally by vote of fans, players and coaches. When the results were announced in late December, the three quarterbacks selected to represent the AFC were Maye, Buffalo’s Josh Allen and the Chargers’ Justin Herbert.
Sanders was not among the first four backups at quarterback in the AFC.
Some of the AFC’s best quarterbacks, including Denver’s Bo Nix, Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes and Indianapolis’ Daniel Jones, suffered season-ending injuries.
Players are not required to participate in Pro Bowl festivities. Several other AFC quarterbacks — perhaps including Jacksonville’s Trevor Lawrence, Houston’s CJ Stroud, Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson, Pittsburgh’s Aaron Rodgers, Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow and Tennessee rookie Cam Ward — may have turned down Pro Bowl invitations for Sanders to get the nod.
All that aside, few people play quarterback in the NFL and even fewer can say they’ve made the Pro Bowl. Sanders seems very grateful for the honor.
“Thank you God. I am beyond excited and extremely grateful for all the love and support from the coaches, players and fans,” Sanders said in a statement released by the Browns. “This wouldn’t be possible without the support behind me. There’s still a lot of work to do.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
