Shedeur Sanders dropped a slick offseason montage on social media and immediately caught a stray from one of the most recognizable voices in NFL media. Former Jets and Bills head coach Rex Ryan wasn’t impressed with the Cleveland Browns quarterback’s latest content, and he made that known in a pointed post on X.
“Get a load of this kid… Great talent needs to realize as a ‘franchise’ QB there has to be more we than me… Cmon man…” Ryan wrote, responding to a video of Sanders posing in front of a wall of Browns jerseys. Ryan tagged the team and the league in his post, which ended with a blunt suggestion: “Grow up.”
This isn’t the first time Sanders has found himself in the middle of a conversation he probably didn’t want to be in. The quarterback fell out of the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft and all the way to the fifth round, where the Browns finally grabbed him. He didn’t exactly hide his frustration about that slide. And now, one year into his rookie deal, he’s still a lightning rod for criticism — especially when he posts shiny content that some interpret as style over substance.
Sanders’ Rookie Year Was a Mixed Bag
Sanders finished his first NFL season with 1,400 passing yards, seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions. The Browns used him sparingly for most of the year before giving him more snaps down the stretch. Cleveland finished 5-12, though they won their final two games — which at least gave fans something to feel okay about heading into the offseason.
The young quarterback also released a short film about his rookie season, titled “Shedeur Sanders: A Short Film.” In it, he talked openly about his mental struggles. “I know within myself what Imma do, and I know how dedicated I am to being great,” he said. “But it was like for a second, and I lost that. I can know that I look back and for a second I definitely lost it.”
Ryan’s Comments Fit a Pattern
Rex Ryan has made a second career out of commentary, and he’s never been shy about calling out players he thinks are getting ahead of themselves. This particular critique — that a young quarterback should be focused on team success rather than personal branding — is a classic Ryan gripe. It also taps into a broader debate about how much off-field content matters, or doesn’t, when you’ve still got a losing record.
The Browns will open training camp on July 31. This season comes with a new head coach in Todd Monken, who replaced Kevin Stefanski after the Browns’ disappointing 2025 campaign. Sanders will be competing for reps and trying to prove he can be more than a late-round curiosity. Whether Ryan’s words motivate him or just add noise is something we’ll find out soon enough.
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