“You only say negative stuff about me”: Shedeur Sanders calls out reporter after big NFL debut

Shedeur Sanders didn’t just walk away from his first NFL preseason game with a win, he walked out with a viral moment. The Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback put on a show in his debut, throwing for 138 yards and two touchdowns in a 30-10 victory over the Carolina Panthers.

But it was what happened after the game, in the tunnel, that set social media on fire.

Shedeur Sanders confronts reporter Tony Grossi after months of criticism

Spotting longtime Browns reporter Tony Grossi, Sanders stopped mid-walk to deliver a message that fans are now calling “QB1 energy.” With cameras rolling, he told Grossi:“I’m hoping you got something positive to say. You only say negative stuff about me. And I ain’t done nothing to you.”

He followed it up with a laugh, a light shoulder pat, and a parting question: “What did I do to you, Tony?” before walking off.If you’ve followed Browns coverage this offseason, you know this wasn’t some random interaction. Grossi, a veteran Cleveland sports reporter, has been openly skeptical about Sanders’ NFL readiness since before the draft. For months, his takes have leaned critical and Sanders clearly noticed.But here’s the twist, after the game, Grossi’s own postgame remarks called Sanders’ debut “impressive” and even hinted that the rookie could push for a bigger role in the quarterback room.

Whether it was the performance or the face-to-face chat that softened his stance, fans are already speculating.“I thought Shedeur was outstanding. My bottom line on Shedeur Sanders’ impressive debut: He put the pressure on QB2 Kenny Pickett and QB3 Dillon Gabriel to get healthy and perform next week.”

NFL insider Ian Rapoport praises Shedeur Sanders’ tunnel exchange

Not everyone saw this as drama. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport called the moment an example of how player-media interactions should be.“Really like this. An honest dialogue between a long-tenured reporter and a young player. This is how it should be… especially with the legit laugh at the end,” Rapoport posted on X. “People never see these interactions, but they happen in locker rooms all the time.”

Why Shedeur Sanders’ viral tunnel moment matters for his NFL brand

This wasn’t just a spicy postgame exchange, it was a statement. NFL history is full of players who sparred with the media, but Sanders comes into the league with a legacy. His father, Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders, famously never shied away from confronting reporters. The younger Sanders seems ready to carry that same unfiltered energy, and that could be a defining part of his NFL identity.Also read - Fans predict ‘most watched preseason game ever’ as Shedeur Sanders makes NFL debut