Shedeur Sanders was never supposed to be at the center of a Pro Bowl conversation this season. The Cleveland Browns quarterback entered 2025 as a backup, stepping into the starting role only after Dillon Gabriel suffered an injury early in the year. His promotion came quietly. The reaction to his Pro Bowl voting results did not.
Sanders’ first stretch as an NFL starter has been uneven at best. Through five regular-season games, his stat line reflects the struggles of a young quarterback still finding his footing. He has completed 72 of 138 passes, barely clearing a 52 percent completion rate. His 946 passing yards come with five touchdowns and six interceptions, numbers that fall well below league averages for starting quarterbacks.
Those figures alone would normally keep a player far from postseason honors. Yet when the latest Pro Bowl voting totals were released, Sanders appeared near the top of the list. With three weeks remaining in the regular season, he ranks 10th among all NFL quarterbacks in fan voting, a position that raised immediate eyebrows across the league.
Why the Pro Bowl voting results triggered backlash
Sanders currently sits ahead of several proven quarterbacks, including Bo Nix, Baker Mayfield, Aaron Rodgers, Lamar Jackson, and Justin Herbert. According to data from Pro Football Reference, many of those players are producing at a significantly higher level in efficiency, yardage, and overall impact. The contrast between performance and voting results has fueled widespread criticism.
Fans quickly voiced their frustration online, questioning whether the Pro Bowl still reflects on-field excellence. Some argued that the honor has lost its meaning entirely, pointing to past commentary from NFL analysts and former players who have echoed similar concerns. NFL.com has previously highlighted how fan voting can skew results toward recognizable names rather than consistent production.
The reaction also revived a familiar argument within league circles. Many believe All-Pro selections, which are decided by media members, offer a more accurate evaluation of a player’s season. That distinction has grown more important as Pro Bowl voting continues to blur the line between achievement and popularity.
Pro Bowl voting officially closed on Monday, December 15, but the final rosters have not yet been announced. Injuries and playoff commitments could still reshape the field, potentially opening the door for Sanders to make the team. If that happens, the conversation surrounding his selection will only grow louder, adding another chapter to the NFL’s ongoing debate over how excellence should be measured.
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