Shedeur Sanders Reflects on Public Perception

Shedeur Sanders, the backup quarterback for the Browns, has previously mentioned feeling misunderstood. Recently, he expressed his ongoing confusion regarding how the public sees him in a magazine article.

“I wish people understood me more as a human being,” Sanders shared with Cosmopolitan. “I don’t think a lot of people really know me. I’m just starting to realize that now. You see various opinions online, but in every face-to-face conversation I have, people usually say, ‘Oh, wow, he’s actually a great guy.’ So, I often wonder, why would you think I’m a bad guy?”

“It’s led me to question things a lot more lately, like, ‘Why do people think this?’ I mean, I don’t want to put all the blame on myself, but I really do want to address that. Connecting with more people is important to me so they can meet me and really see who I am.”

After opting not to throw at the scouting combine, Sanders was selected in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft after playing at Colorado under his father.

In his rookie season, he participated in eight games, starting seven, throwing for 1,400 yards, completing seven touchdowns, but also 10 interceptions, particularly as Deshaun Watson missed the entire year due to an Achilles injury.

As the Browns head into their road game against the Jets with a solid 3-1 record, the 24-year-old Sanders has had limited chances, throwing just one pass so far. Watson has been efficient, boasting a passer rating of 101.2 with six touchdowns against only two interceptions.

The team does have four quarterbacks on contract, including Dillon Gabriel, a fellow 2025 draft selection who is currently on injured reserve with a back issue. Gabriel was designated this week to return to practice and is likely to compete with Sanders for the backup role behind Watson as the November 10 trade deadline approaches.