Shedeur Sanders has officially revealed that he’ll be donning the No. 12 jersey when he takes his first snaps in the NFL as a member of the Cleveland Browns; following in the foorsteps of one of his idols, Tom Brady.
The 23-year-old quarterback, fresh off an eventful draft journey, is setting his sights on earning the starting role in Ohio and made a subtle yet meaningful shift from the No. 2 he wore throughout his college career.
Many are interpreting it as a quiet nod to Brady, despite the minority owner of the Las Vegas Raiders being rumored to have expressed hesitation about the young QB, which may have contributed to Sanders’ slide into the fifth round.
He was ultimately selected 144th overall by Cleveland, far later than many projected. Heading into the draft, Sanders was widely considered a potential first-round selection, trailing just behind Cam Ward on many analysts’ quarterback rankings.
But as the draft unfolded and his name went uncalled, speculation grew that he could fall completely out of contention. Even the Browns themselves passed on Sanders earlier, selecting Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel with the 94th overall pick in the third round.
That was despite questions swirling around DeShaun Watson‘s injury and fitness strength, as well as only Joey Flacco and Kenny Pickett as other viable options prior to the 2025 NFL Draft.
Yet cespite the unexpected drop, Sanders seems undeterred. He’s already voicing high ambitions, expressing a desire to lead the Browns not just to victory, but to the Super Bowl title.
It’s a bold statement considering he has yet to secure the starting job as the head coach, Kevin Stefanski, has not yet named a definitive starter, but Shedeur is clearly determined to make his case at training camp.
Sanders mirrors Brady: But will he emulate?
It wouldn’t be the first time a future star emerged from the later rounds. Tom Brady himself fell to pick No. 199 in the 2000 NFL Draft, before being taken under the wing of the New England Patriots.
Initially overlooked, he famously seized his opportunity alongside Bill Belichick and built one of the most decorated careers in league history, winning seven Super Bowl titles, five Super Bowl MVPs, and three league MVP awards, with over 89,000 passing yards and 649 touchdowns.
Brady’s path proves draft position isn’t all, it’s what you do once the door opens. Sanders seems to understand that.
Whether he can emulate his idol’s success remains to be seen, but by adopting No. 12, he’s clearly signaling the kind of legacy he aims to build.
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