As the next generation of the Sanders football legacy takes shape, the spotlight has shifted toward Shilo Sanders, who has officially begun his NFL journey with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Following in the footsteps of his Hall of Fame father, Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders, and joining his brother Shedeur-now with the Cleveland Browns-Shilo is carving his own path in the league.
Despite projections placing him in the fifth-round range, Shilo slipped through all seven rounds of the 2025 NFL Draft.
While that may have come as a surprise to analysts familiar with his playmaking ability and aggressive style of defense at Colorado, the slide gave Shilo the unique opportunity to choose his landing spot.
That destination became Tampa Bay, where the safety will now don jersey No. 28-a number with deep significance in Buccaneers history.
Stepping into a number with meaning
The No. 28 jersey carries a certain weight in Tampa Bay, most famously worn by Warrick Dunn. A dual-threat running back and community hero, Dunn played a major role in establishing the Buccaneers as playoff contenders during his tenure from 1997 to 2001 and again from 2008.
By choosing this number, Shilo isn’t just picking digits; he’s embracing the expectations and legacy that come with it.
The significance is all the more poignant considering that his younger brother Shedeur also had a number controversy of his own with the Browns.
After Colorado retired Shedeur‘s No. 2, he was denied the same number in Cleveland and opted for No. 12, famously worn by Tom Brady-his mentor. In contrast, Shilo‘s assignment of No. 28 didn’t come with the same media storm, but it still symbolized something powerful: the start of his NFL identity.
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