‘Still plenty of work to do’: How did Shedeur Sanders get the nod for the Pro Bowl?
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- Cleveland rookie Shedeur Sanders earns Pro Bowl selection despite modest statistics: 56.6% completion, 1,400 yards, seven touchdown passes and 10 interceptions.
- Top AFC quarterbacks’ injuries and some declined invites have perhaps cleared an unlikely path for the fifth-round pick to replace New England’s Drake Maye at the Pro Bowl.
- Sanders becomes the first Browns QB to make the Pro Bowl since Derek Anderson in 2008 and the first rookie selected since Maye last year.
Shedeur Sanders made the Pro Bowl.
Let that 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 wasn’t selected until his third season.
The younger Sanders just finished his rookie season ... for the 5-12 Cleveland Browns.
Shedeur Sanders pantomimes his responses about staying at No. 3 on the Cleveland Browns’ depth chart after fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel is named starter.
The former Colorado quarterback was considered a potential high first-round pick going into the 2025 draft, but he slipped down to the fifth round, where he was selected by Cleveland at No. 144 overall.
Sanders began the season as a third-stringer but eventually became the Browns’ QB1. In eight games played, including seven as a starter, Sanders completed 56.6% of his passes for 1,400 yards with seven touchdowns, 10 interceptions and a passer rating of 68.1. He also rushed for one touchdown.
In other words, he wasn’t exactly an elite NFL quarterback.
Justin Herbert, Derwin James Jr., Tuli Tuipulotu, Joe Alt and Cameron Dicker were named Pro Bowl selections by the NFL on Tuesday.
Yet, Sanders is headed to the Bay Area to take part in the 2026 Pro Bowl Games on Feb. 3. He was named as the replacement for New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye, who is unable to participate because his team is playing the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl LX on Feb. 8.
Sanders is the first Browns quarterback to make the Pro Bowl since Derek Anderson in 2008 and the first rookie quarterback to make it since Maye last year.
Sanders may be the most unexpected selection since then-Baltimore Ravens backup Tyler Huntley. Huntley made the cut after the 2022 season despite playing in only six games, starting in four, and throwing for 658 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions.
Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, receiver Puka Nacua and edge rushers Jared Verse and Byron Young were voted to the Pro Bowl.
How did this happen? Here’s what we know.
Pro Bowl selections are determined in equal parts by fan, player and coach voting. 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 alternates at quarterback in the AFC.
Some of the AFC’s top quarterbacks — including Denver’s Bo Nix, Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes and Indianapolis’ Daniel Jones — suffered season-ending injuries.
The Times spoke with the Georgia resident who is suing the NFL for $100 million over the ‘severe emotional distress’ he says he suffered when Shedeur Sanders dropped in the draft.
Players are not required to take part in the Pro Bowl festivities. Several other AFC quarterbacks — possibly including Jacksonville’s Trevor Lawrence, Houston’s C.J. Stroud, Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson, Pittsburgh’s Aaron Rodgers, Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow and Tennessee rookie Cam Ward — may have turned down Pro Bowl invites for Sanders to have gotten the nod.
All that aside, not many people ever get to play quarterback in the NFL and even fewer can say they made the Pro Bowl. Sanders seems most appreciative of the honor.
“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 released by the Browns. “This wouldn’t be possible without the support behind me. Still plenty of work to do.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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