Quick Read
- Shedeur Sanders, Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback, was added to the AFC Pro Bowl roster for the 2025 season.
- He replaces Drake Maye, whose team is in Super Bowl LX, and other injured QBs like Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson.
- Sanders completed 56.6% of his passes for 1,400 yards, 7 TDs, and 10 INTs in eight appearances (seven starts).
- He is the first fifth-round rookie to make the Pro Bowl since Puka Nacua in 2023.
- The Pro Bowl has transitioned to a flag football event, emphasizing celebrity and fan engagement.
SAN FRANCISCO (Azat TV) – Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders has been surprisingly added to the AFC Pro Bowl roster for the 2025 NFL season, a decision that has drawn considerable attention given his challenging statistical performance in his debut year and the broader context of player replacements for the annual event. The announcement, first reported by NFL insider Jordan Schultz, places the fifth-round pick alongside established stars like Josh Allen and Justin Herbert, making him the first rookie fifth-round selection to make the Pro Bowl since Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua in 2023.
An Unexpected Call-Up
Sanders’ inclusion on the AFC roster comes as a replacement for New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye, whose team will compete in Super Bowl LX. Additionally, several other prominent AFC quarterbacks, including Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, and Bo Nix, are reportedly dealing with injuries, necessitating further replacements. Despite these circumstances, the selection of Sanders has been widely described as ‘mind-boggling’ by outlets such as Sports Illustrated, given his on-field production during the 2025 season.
In his eight appearances, including seven starts for the Browns, Sanders completed 56.6% of his passes for 1,400 yards, throwing seven touchdowns against 10 interceptions. His passer rating of 68.1 and QBR of 18.9 were notably low for an NFL starter. The Browns finished the season with a 5-12 record, leading to the dismissal of head coach Kevin Stefanski, who has since taken the Falcons’ job. Sanders took over the starting role in Week 12 after fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel sustained a concussion, guiding the team to a 3-4 record in his starts, including back-to-back wins to close the season.
The Evolving Pro Bowl Landscape
The Pro Bowl, which has transitioned from a traditional football game to a flag football event in recent years, is now viewed by many as more of a ‘television event’ designed to capture eyeballs ahead of the Super Bowl. In this new format, the ‘last name and celebrity status’ of a player like Sanders, the son of Pro Football Hall of Famer Deion Sanders, may play a significant role in selections, according to Yahoo Sports. Sanders is currently in France with his brother Shilo and is expected to be a prominent figure at the fan-forward event. He will join teammates Myles Garrett and Denzel Ward, who were also selected for the Pro Bowl.
The 2026 Pro Bowl Games will be held on Tuesday, February 3, at the Moscone Center South Building in San Francisco, California. The event will feature an AFC versus NFC flag football game coached by Hall of Famers Jerry Rice (NFC) and Steve Young (AFC). Coverage is scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. ET, with the game airing at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN, Disney XD, and NFL+.
From Draft Slide to Pro Bowl Nod
Shedeur Sanders entered the 2025 NFL Draft with significant college hype, having followed his father, Deion Sanders, from FCS Jackson State to Colorado. As a senior in 2024, he had a standout season, completing an FBS-high 74.0% of his passes for 4,134 yards, with 37 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He finished eighth in Heisman Trophy voting, earned first-team All-Big 12 honors, was named Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year, and won the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award.
Despite these collegiate accolades, Sanders surprisingly plummeted in the 2025 NFL Draft, with many expecting him to be a first-round selection. He was ultimately chosen by the Browns with the 144th pick in the fifth round, the sixth quarterback taken overall. This unexpected Pro Bowl selection as a rookie marks a curious full circle moment for a player whose professional trajectory has already defied conventional expectations.
Uncertain Future for Cleveland’s Quarterback Position
The Cleveland Browns’ quarterback situation remains fluid heading into the 2026 season. With head coach Kevin Stefanski’s departure, the team is searching for a new leader, with Jacksonville Jaguars offensive coordinator Grant Udinski and Los Angeles Rams pass game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase reportedly among the frontrunners. Neither candidate has existing ties to Sanders, Dillon Gabriel, or veteran Deshaun Watson, who is entering the final year of his contract.
While Sanders has likely earned a chance to compete for the starting job, it is considered highly probable that the Browns will bring in additional quarterbacks to challenge him for the top spot. This could include a rookie from the upcoming draft or a veteran acquisition, with names like Mac Jones of the San Francisco 49ers being floated in trade discussions, according to Heavy.com. Despite the uncertainty surrounding his long-term role in Cleveland, Sanders will represent the AFC at the Pro Bowl, a significant, albeit puzzling, recognition for his rookie campaign.
The decision to include Shedeur Sanders in the Pro Bowl roster, despite his statistically underwhelming rookie season, underscores the event’s evolving nature, prioritizing celebrity appeal and fan engagement over traditional merit-based performance, particularly when numerous higher-performing quarterbacks are unavailable due to injury or Super Bowl participation.