The Cleveland Browns sit at 3-1 after beating the Pittsburgh Steelers 27-24 on October 1. Deshaun Watson threw for 268 yards in that win. Backup Shedeur Sanders has spent the season waiting behind him.
Away from the field, though, Sanders has a message for anyone who thinks they already know who he is. His latest interview suggests he has been thinking about his public image for a while.
Shedeur Sanders claps back at his haters
Sanders opened up in a Cosmopolitan Centerfold interview that the magazine shared this week. The story centers on one claim, that the public version of Sanders is not the person people meet face to face.
“I don’t think a lot of people really know me. I’m just now starting to understand that,” Sanders told Cosmopolitan.
Aug 15, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders (2) passes the ball againnst the Chicago Bears during the second half at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images
The scrutiny is not new. Sanders played for his father, Deion Sanders, at Jackson State and Colorado. In 2024 he won Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year with 4,134 yards and 37 touchdowns. Still, he slid to the fifth round of the 2025 draft and went 144th overall to Cleveland.
His rookie year brought more noise. He took over as the starter in Week 12 and finished with 1,400 yards, seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions.
Sanders also said, “You hear a lot of things online, but every encounter I have in person, people end up saying, ‘Oh, wow, he’s actually a great guy.’ Why would you think I’m a bad guy?”
His comments arrive as his role in Cleveland looks very different from last season.
Sanders remains Watson’s backup as the Browns lead the AFC North
Head coach Todd Monken named Watson the starter in August. Watson missed all of 2025 with a torn Achilles. Monken said Sanders closed the gap in camp, but he pointed to Watson’s ability to move the ball and score points.
The decision has held up so far. Cleveland opened with a 34-10 loss at Jacksonville, then beat Tampa Bay 23-19 and Carolina 21-18. Those results put the Browns at 3-1 and first in the AFC North.
Oct 1, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders (2) and quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) before the game at Huntington Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
Sanders, meanwhile, has seen little action this season. Any shot at changing the conversation on the field would depend on a Watson injury or a change at quarterback. That leaves interviews like this one as one of his few public platforms right now.
Cleveland (3-1) visits the New York Jets (1-3) on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET at MetLife Stadium. Watson will look to extend the Browns’ winning run, while Sanders waits for his chance and keeps telling people who he really is.
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