As the ongoing quarterback drama with the Cleveland Browns and Shedeur Sanders drags on, Nick Wright of Fox Sports has suggested that the Browns fix the issue by hiring his father, Colorado Head Coach and NFL Hall of Famer Deion Sanders, to take over for Kevin Stefanski.
“If Cleveland wants a winning culture they need to hire Coach Prime,” Wright stated.
Wright has been both a proponent and harsh critic of Shedeur Sanders since the lightning rod signal caller fell to the fifth round of last April’s NFL Draft. The younger Sanders had a standout career while playing for this father at Colorado, setting numerous school passing records and having his jersey retired last spring. Most analysts though he would be a first round draft pick. Instead, after some difficult moments during the pre-draft process, Shedeur fell to the Browns in the fifth round. Since he arrived in Cleveland, there have been another handful of cringe-worthy moments that have drawn criticism from even his staunches supporters, like Wright. The only person who hasn’t been publicly critical of Shedeur over the past few months is his father.
Apparently the controversial sports talk host feels like reuniting father and son and trying to replicate the formula that led the Buffaloes to a 9-4 season in 2024 (Deion’s only winning season as the Buffaloes head coach) is the way to solve both the Browns QB dilemma and the franchises’ lack of on-field success.
There are several flaws in Wright’s plan. First, Sanders is under contract in Boulder for four more seasons, and has a hefty $33.6 million contract buyout that any NFL Owner would balk at given Sanders lack of professional coaching experience and his sub-.500 record as a Power Four head coach. That would be on top of whatever salary Deion would demand.
Plus, there isn’t much evidence to back up the “winning culture” part of the argument. The Buffaloes have been 4-8, 9-4 and are currently 3-7 turning Deion’s tenure.
Second, Deion Sanders health issues remain a major concern not only for the Sanders family, but also for any potential employers. Last spring and summer he underwent treatment for bladder cancer and eventually had the organ removed. The doctors at the University of Colorado Health Science Center, UC Health, rebuilt his bladder and he’s been able to be on the sidelines this season with a portable restroom nearby.
This is on top of Deion’s ongoing issues with blood clots in his lower extremities. He’s had flareups with that serious health concern this fall as well.
There’s no doubt that both men, father and son, miss working together. Shedeur has struggled to accept coaching from anyone other than his father. Deion allowed him the freedom to basically run the Colorado offense his way during their two seasons in Boulder. And Colorado has struggled mightily under center this season, the first time the Deion hasn’t had his son in that role.
Would it be a win-win-win for all involved if the Browns replaced their current coaching staff and turned things over to Deion? It would be fascinating to watch, but the on-field results aren’t guaranteed to be better than what’s happening with the Browns right now.
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