One loyal Colorado Buffaloes fan is suing the NFL $100 million after quarterback Shedeur Sanders was drafted in the fifth roundalleging racism and emotional distress.
What happened to Shedeur Sanders?
Sanders, the son of NFL Hall of Famer Deion Sanders (who was also his coach at both Jackson State and Colorado) was originally projected to be selected as a top pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. In the end, he slid to the fifth round, getting passed up until he was finally taken 144th overall by the Cleveland Browns.
In the weeks leading up to the draft, some coaches complained about Sanders’ attitude and arrogance. The week before the draft, NFL Media released a summary of the top 18 prospects, and Sanders’ section included damaging comments from an assistant coach. He said this of Sanders’ interview: “The worst formal interview I’ve ever been in in my life. He’s so entitled. He takes unnecessary sacks. He never plays on time. He has horrible body language. He blames teammates. … But the biggest thing is, he’s not that good.”
Another anonymous executive said this: “It didn’t go great in our interview. He wants to dictate what he’s going to do and what’s best for him. He makes you feel small.”
“I got the audio for all of Shedeur Sanders draft interviews. It’s bad Vlad, I want to release it but out of respect for Deion, on Piru, ima leave it alone” pic.twitter.com/7rWUzDMlKP
— Deuce (@DeuceThomas) April 26, 2025
What grounds does the fan have to sue the NFL over Sanders’ draft slide?
The anonymous fan, filed under the pseudonym “John Doe” in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, is suing the NFL and its affiliates, alleging that the leaked statements about his interviews conspired to damage his reputation and hurt his draft stock, thus “causing emotional distress and trauma to the Plaintiff as a fan and consumer.”
“The NFL may have engaged in unfair practices by misrepresenting the nature of the drafting process and the qualifications of players,” the lawsuit states.
The lawsuit also alleges that “the decisions made regarding Sanders may have been influenced by racial discrimination, violating his rights as a player”. It suggests that the NFL violated both the Antitrust Act and the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as well as consumer protection laws. Despite the fact that the first overall pick in the draft, quarterback Cam Ward, is also Black, Sanders’ draft slide caused racial debates online.
The NFL doesn’t like Shaduer Sanders because he wears gold chains and talks like a rapper. They don’t care that he’s a leader, intelligent, tough and completed 77% of his passes with no o line and no running game.
He’s entitled but Eli Manning wasn’t entitled when he refused to… pic.twitter.com/EzIbDmyZRJ
— Jamaal Bowman Ed.D. (@JamaalBowmanNY) April 25, 2025
In addition to the $100 million compensation, the plaintiff is asking the court for:
- Formal acknowledgment from the league regarding the emotional distress caused by their actions and statements
- Retraction of the slanderous statements made about Shedeur Sanders, along with an apology for any harm caused to his reputation
- Implementation of fairer practices in the drafting process in the future to ensure that talented players are recognized and given opportunities based on merit
- Any additional remedies the court deems appropriate, including compensatory damages
Sanders and his family have not complained about these same things against the NFL. Sanders is expected to compete with fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel for the starting quarterback job in Cleveland.
The NFL has not yet released a public response to the lawsuit against them.
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