It’s not every day that the President of the United States steps into the world of sports to advocate for a player, but that’s precisely what happened last week.
Donald Trump, known for his strong opinions, took to Truth Social to express his disapproval over Shedeur Sanders’ surprising slide in the NFL Draft.
Trump’s Bold Statement
After the Colorado quarterback—who’s also the son of NFL Hall of Famer Deion Sanders—was passed over in the first round, Trump wasted no time voicing his thoughts.
He posted a fiery rant, blasting the 32 NFL teams for not picking Sanders sooner.#
In his post, Trump asked, “What is wrong with NFL owners, are they STUPID?” and highlighted Deion Sanders’ impressive football career, both as a player and coach.
Trump continued, praising Shedeur’s potential by saying, “He has PHENOMENAL GENES and is all set for Greatness.”
He urged teams to pick him up immediately if they wanted to win, offering well wishes to Shedeur and a shout-out to his father, Deion.
Shilo Sanders Responds
Shedeur’s brother, Shilo Sanders, who himself is an NFL Draft prospect, shared his reaction to the President’s post on the “One Night with Steiny” podcast.
Shilo admitted that he was blown away by Trump’s intervention, calling it the “coolest thing” he had ever seen.
He added, “If you got the president tweeting, bro, you know something’s wrong.”
Shedeur’s Unexpected Draft Outcome
Many analysts had predicted Shedeur would be a top-two quarterback in the draft, but he was ultimately taken in the fifth round by the Cleveland Browns, at 144th overall.
His fall was unexpected, and Trump’s post came just before the second and third rounds of the draft began, sparking conversations about what might have influenced his later selection.
Surprising Picks and White House Comments
Despite being considered one of the top quarterback prospects, Shedeur was the sixth QB chosen, with players like Tyler Shough, Dillon Gabriel, and Jalen Milroe being drafted ahead of him.
The White House, perhaps unexpectedly, seemed to hint that Trump’s intervention played a role in Shedeur’s eventual selection, though it came much later than anticipated.
When asked about it, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt commented, “The president put out a statement and a few rounds later he was drafted. So, I think the facts speak for themselves.”
Financial Impact and Shilo’s Journey
While Shedeur was eventually drafted, his drop in the draft likely cost him millions in potential early career earnings.
Meanwhile, his brother Shilo, a defensive back, wasn’t drafted at all but quickly signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent just days after the draft ended.
The Sanders family’s journey continues, with Shedeur’s draft outcome raising questions about the influence of social media and public support in the selection process.