Shedeur Sanders Delivers Unique Gift to Coach Monken

Shedeur Sanders, a quarterback vying for a starting spot with the Cleveland Browns, recently surprised his new coach, Todd Monken, with an unexpected birthday gift.

Monken shared that after speaking to Sanders several times, he received a peculiar package on his birthday, February 5th. Initially thinking it was from his wife, he opened it to find a porcelain horse head, a gift from Sanders. “I was taken aback,” Monken recounted, “and asked Shedeur what it meant. He simply said, ‘I liked it,’ which I found quite amusing.”

This whimsical present has sparked curiosity—could this be a hint at Sanders outshining other quarterback hopefuls like Deshaun Watson and Dillon Gabriel in the Browns’ lineup?

While nothing has been confirmed yet, one can only imagine how Watson and Gabriel will react to this quirky centerpiece in Monken’s office when they arrive. “I placed it among the Cleveland helmets for a laugh,” Monken noted. “I wanted to make sure it’s noticeable when they come in.”

During the NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Monken reflected on his journey and how close he came to joining John Harbaugh’s initial staff with the Giants before landing with the Browns. He also touched on the competition for the quarterback role among the three players he inherited.

From what Monken has seen of Sanders so far, he’s optimistic. “There’s an elite playmaking ability in him,” he said. “We can all see it on tape. Sure, every rookie has things to improve, but I’m eager to work with him and our other quarterbacks.”

Sanders, a fifth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, had a mixed debut season with the Browns, posting a 3-4 record with seven touchdowns and ten interceptions after stepping in as a starter in Week 12.

Gabriel, who was drafted two rounds prior to Sanders, struggled in his first season as well, finishing with a record of 1-5, seven touchdowns, and two interceptions. Meanwhile, Watson, who has the most experience of the trio, enters the 2026 season amid a tumultuous period—his five-year, $230 million contract has not gone as planned. After missing all of last season due to an Achilles injury, he has played only 19 games, scoring 19 passing touchdowns and recording 12 interceptions.