Denver – A group of fans has taken legal action against the National Football League, citing “mental distress and trauma” after quarterback Shedeur Sanders was picked later than anticipated in the draft.
The lawsuit, filed on May 1, involves anonymous fans from Georgia and committed supporters of Colorado Football.
One fan, referred to as John Doe in legal documents, mentioned their support for Sanders during his tenure at the University of Colorado Buffaloes. Despite considerable expectations, he was the 144th pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
They claim leaked information and reports pointing to Sanders “tanking interviews” and a “lack of effort” negatively impacted his image and influenced the drafting decisions.
The lawsuit alleges that the NFL conspired with teams in violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act, arguing that Sanders’ selection may have been influenced by racial bias, thus violating civil rights laws as well.
Furthermore, it contends that the league broke the Consumer Protection Act by misleading fans about the draft process and the player’s credentials.
According to the complaint, the NFL’s practices and statements resulted in serious emotional distress for fans, leaving them frustrated and psychologically harmed. They are seeking $100 million in punitive damages.
The fans are also calling on the NFL to recognize the emotional toll of their actions and statements, retract any defamatory remarks about Sanders, issue an apology for potential reputational damage, and adopt a fairer draft process.
In a related note, President Trump highlighted this issue, announcing that the 2027 NFL Draft will take place in Washington, D.C., as he revealed at a White House event alongside Mayor Muriel Bowser.
