Shedeur Sanders didn’t see the field until Week 11 of his rookie season. He didn’t make his first NFL start until Week 12.
A contingent of the quarterback’s fans have theorized that Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski was conspiring against Sanders this season, as the Browns first started a 40-year-old Joe Flacco before turning to fellow first-year signal-caller Dillon Gabriel in Week 5.
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Sanders, who led the Browns to victory this past weekend against the Las Vegas Raiders while Gabriel was in concussion protocol, faced a question Wednesday about those Stefanski “sabotaging” allegations.
“All your supporters out there say that Kevin Stefanski was sabotaging you,” a reporter said.
“So you just want to start trouble, huh?” Sanders responded at the podium.
The reporter answered, “No, I want to ask you what your relationship with him is.”
Notably, two days earlier, Stefanski named Sanders the Browns’ starter for this week’s game against the San Francisco 49ers, despite Gabriel being cleared to play.
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“What people do outside the building isn’t really in my control,” Sanders said. “It’s not in my power. So I don’t — you act like I go out there and tell them to do whatever. You know, that’s not nothing I control or nothing I can do.
“Overall, I’m just happy to be here. Coach Stefanski has been coaching since I got here, and he’s been doing a very great job with everything that’s going on.”
The reporter followed up, asking what Sanders’ relationship is with Stefanski when they’re away from the cameras.
“Definitely like a coach,” Sanders said. “He tells me what I need to do, on and off the field. We’ve definitely grown — our relationship and everything has grown. So I’m just thankful to be here.”
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Sanders operated Stefanki’s offense to the tune of a 24-10 victory in Vegas. He threw his first-career touchdown pass, and he ended a 17-game losing streak held by Browns quarterbacks making their first-ever NFL start.
While Myles Garrett and the Cleveland defense preyed on a reeling Raiders offensive line, Sanders helped the Browns take a 14-0 first-quarter lead, most notably escaping a blitz and uncorking a 52-yard throw to wide receiver Isaiah Bond that set up the second of two Quinshon Judkins rushing touchdowns.
Midway through the fourth quarter, the former Colorado star dumped off a pass to running back Dylan Sampson, who then sprinted 66 yards to the end zone to make it a 24-3 game.
Sanders has earned quite a bit of love since, including from the President of the United States.
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Sanders responds to social media post made by President Donald Trump
Following Sanders’ win over the Raiders, President Donald Trump posted on social media, “Shedeur Sanders was GREAT. Wins first game, career start, as a pro (for Cleveland). Great Genes. I TOLD YOU SO!”
Sanders responded Wednesday in his news conference.
“He’s definitely been a supporter for a minute,” Sanders said. “So I’m just thankful for him, even taking time out of his day to be able to speak out and support.”
The spotlight was on Sanders long before he took over as the Browns’ starting quarterback. The sports world will be watching as he goes up against the 49ers, the team his Pro Football Hall of Fame father won both NFL Defensive Player of the Year and the Super Bowl with during the 1994 season.
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