Is Shedeur Sanders related to Hall of Famer Deion Sanders?

As the 2025 NFL Draft nears, Shedeur Sanders finds himself at the center of conversation—both for his on-field potential and the question many casual fans still ask: is he related to Deion Sanders?

The answer is yes. Shedeur isn’t just related to Deion, he’s his son. But that simple fact comes with layers of expectation, scrutiny, and, occasionally, unfair comparisons.

• Shedeur Sanders: 2025 NFL Draft’s most polarizing prospects

Sanders: son forging his own path

Shedeur Sanders, a 6-foot-2, 215-pound quarterback out of Colorado, enters this year’s draft with conflicting views surrounding him. Once hyped as a possible No. 1 overall pick, his stock has cooled in recent months, with oddsmakers pegging his Over/Under draft position at 8.5. The New Orleans Saints, selecting at No. 9, are considered the most likely suitors.

One of the reasons has been around his character:

...and, some say, specifically because of his father:

Despite the slide, Sanders carries one of the most productive college resumes in this year’s draft. His final season at Colorado saw him complete nearly 66% of his passes for 3,231 yards and 30 touchdowns.

Even more impressive, he led the FBS in completion percentage the previous year at a sharp 74%, tossing 37 touchdowns for over 4,100 yards. These are not the numbers of someone riding their father’s name.

How Shedeur Sanders stacks up in the 2025 draft class

In a thin quarterback class, Shedeur sits behind Cam Ward as the consensus No. 2 prospect. But teams aren’t sold. He skipped the Big 12 Pro Day and won’t attend the draft – choices that raised questions about his process.

Still, those decisions are said to reflect his calculated approach, shaped by father Deion, who’s guided him not just as a player but as a public figure. Staying home on draft night is part of that strategy – not a retreat, but a focus on controlling the moment.

Having such a father, and coach, clearly adds pressure. Deion, a Hall of Famer in two sports and now head coach at Colorado, holds Shedeur to the highest standard. But many believe that scrutiny hasn’t shaken him, but sharpened him.

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