“I’m beyond excited”: Shedeur Sanders opens up on surprise Pro Bowl honor with Cleveland Browns

Shedeur Sanders did not expect the call. Rookie QBs rarely do, especially ones who started only 7 games and played behind a messy roster. Yet on Jan. 27, Sanders found himself packing for San Francisco after learning he would represent the Cleveland Browns at the Pro Bowl Game.For a league still looking for stability, the moment felt unexpected. Cleveland finished 5–12, fired Kevin Stefanski earlier this month, and remains without an HC. Still, Sanders' selection added a rare bright spot to a season filled with hard lessons, criticism, and constant doubt.

Shedeur Sanders reacts after a late Pro Bowl call-up

Sanders was added to the AFC Pro Bowl roster as a replacement for Patriots QB Drake Maye, whose team advanced to Super Bowl LX. With Patrick Mahomes and Bo Nix nursing their injuries, the NFL turned to Sanders as the next available option.Speaking before leaving for San Francisco, Sanders addressed his selection in comments shared by Browns beat reporters. "Thank you, God. I'm beyond excited," Sanders said while speaking to the media ahead of team travel. "Extremely grateful for all the love and support from the coaches, players, and fans. This wouldn't be possible without the support behind me. Still plenty of work to do."The credentials explain why the selection surprised fans.

Sanders appeared in 8 games during the 2025 regular season, starting seven. He finished with 1,400 passing yards, 7 TDs, and 10 interceptions. His completion rate sat at 56.6 per cent. Cleveland went 3–4 in its starts, slightly better than its overall record.Those stats ignited debate across the league. Some folks doubted whether popularity played a role. Sanders entered the NFL with national attention as the son of Pro Football Hall of Fame Deion Sanders.

The Browns selected him in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, and every snap drew focus.The contrast with Maye only sharpened the discussion. Maye threw for 4,394 yards, 31 TDs, and eight interceptions across 17 games. Still, availability rules opened the door, and Sanders walked through it. The honor places Sanders among a short list. He became the 16th quarterback to earn a Pro Bowl selection in his rookie season, a milestone that players like Tom Brady never reached.But analysts across the league do support the young QB. Among them, Skip Bayless is the noticeable voice. He said, "He's a Pro Bowler to me. On interest detonated, he's a Pro Bowler. On magnetism, on eyeballs, all the things we talked about on this show, people watch Shedeur Sanders. He further added, "So, for me, the NFL made a shrewd move because ... nobody watches this anyway. It's a dying breed of a game."Now comes the bigger test. Cleveland continues its HC hunt, with Nate Scheelhaase, Todd Monken, and Jim Schwartz reported as finalists. Sanders fits a pocket-based system that needs protection and rhythm. His Pro Bowl nod changes nothing about that reality, but it does set a higher standard. The Pro Bowl Game take place on Feb. 3 at 8:00 PM ET in San Francisco.