In the end, Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Shilo Sanders learned a hard lesson about professional football.
No matter what your last name is, if you’re a distraction (and an undrafted free agent), teams don’t put up with headaches.
The Buccaneers releases Sanders, the son of Pro Football Hall of Fame cornerback Deion Sanders, on August 24 and just one day after he was ejected for throwing a punch during a preseason game against the Buffalo Bills.
Sanders was one of four players released by the Buccaneers along with edge rusher Jose Ramirez, defensive lineman Eric Banks and defensive lineman Dvon J-Thomas.
Sanders was always a long shot to make the roster after a so-so college career that included stops at South Carolina, Jackson State and Colorado, with his father as his head coach at the last 2 stops.
“Buccaneers informed rookie safety Shilo Sanders today that he is being waived, per his agents Drew Rosenhaus and Robert Bailey, who added, ‘we’re hoping he gets claimed on waivers,’ ” ESPN’s Adam Schefter wrote on his official X account.
Social Media Reacts to Shilo’s Release
For someone who wasn’t drafted and who has never shown he could be much more than a middling talent on a football field, Sanders’ fame seems to rival that of some of the most popular players on the Buccaneers.
Social media reacted accordingly to his release.
“Shilo Sanders…. you’re my guy,” X user GM1 wrote on August 23. “Wtf were you thinking? Easy answer, you weren’t. You have too much stacked against you to be making bonehead decisions like that.
“While everyone debates whether or not Shilo Sanders should have been ejected, I’m still trying to figure out the purpose of punching a dude in the head while he’s wearing a helmet,” Greg Vorse wrote on X.
“Heartbreaking: Bucs rookie safety Shilo Sanders surprised his mother with his first-ever NFL jersey … Shilo was released by the Bucs this morning,” NFL social media influencer Dov Kleiman wrote on his official X account. “He tried his hardest, but it wasn’t enough.”
Now, there’s a chance both Shilo Sanders and his younger brother, Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders, could both be unemployed in 2025.
“Shedeur and Shilo Sanders might hold a special NFL bond they can share with each other for the rest of their lives after today ……. They played their last NFL game on August 23, 2025,” X user Jay Henry wrote on his official account.
Sanders Always Long Shot to Make 53-Man Roster
There were always pretty slim odds for Sanders to make the 53-man roster for the Buccaneers or even land on the practice squad.
“The Colorado safety was considered a fringe Day 3 prospect at best going into the event, but teams ultimately elected to go different directions rather than roll the dice on a 25-year-old defensive back with limited potential,” Bleacher Report’s Alex Kay wrote on May 6, estimating the odds of Sanders making the roster at just 10 percent. ” … The Bucs are incurring almost no financial risk by signing Sanders (he would make just $840,000 by earning a spot on the final roster), but the rookie faces a brutal journey to secure that money.”
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Buccaneers Make Decision to Part Ways With Son of Pro Football Hall of Famer appeared first on Heavy Sports.