Former US President Donald Trump has issued a brutal 'I told you so' to National Football League owners after rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders led the Cleveland Browns to a victory in his first professional start.
A Winning Debut and a Presidential Endorsement
Shedeur Sanders, the 23-year-old son of NFL legend Deion Sanders, enjoyed a triumphant full debut for the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, helping secure a 24-10 win against the Las Vegas Raiders. The performance sparked widespread celebration on social media, but one voice stood out: that of Donald Trump.
Taking to his Truth Social platform, the former president wrote: 'Shedeur Sanders was GREAT. Wins first game, career start, as a pro (for Cleveland). Great Genes. I TOLD YOU SO!'
This public endorsement came after Trump had previously voiced fierce criticism of NFL franchises for overlooking Sanders in the 2025 NFL Draft back in April.
Trump's Prior Fury Over 'Stupid' NFL Owners
Trump's latest comments follow his earlier outburst where he questioned the judgement of team owners. At the time of the draft, he fumed on social media: 'What is wrong with NFL owners, are they STUPID? Deion Sanders was a great college football player, and was even greater in the NFL. He's also a very good coach, streetwise and smart!'
He went on to praise Shedeur's potential, stating: 'Therefore, Shedeur, his quarterback son, has PHENOMENAL GENES, and is all set for Greatness. He should be 'picked' IMMEDIATELY by a team that wants to WIN.'
Proving his supporters right, Sanders' debut performance was statistically solid and historically significant. He completed 11 of 20 passes for 209 yards, including one touchdown and one interception. More importantly, he became the first quarterback in Cleveland Browns history to win on his first career start for the franchise.
Overcoming Adversity On and Off the Field
The rookie's path to his successful debut was far from smooth. Sanders endured what was described as a 'rollercoaster' couple of weeks, which culminated in a difficult start to his life in Cleveland. In a particularly chaotic turn of events, it was revealed that his home was burgled on the very day he made his NFL bow the previous Sunday.
Speaking to media after the game, a defiant Sanders addressed his detractors, saying: 'A lot of people want to see me fail. It ain't gonna happen. It ain't gonna happen.'
Meanwhile, Trump has found himself in other NFL-related controversies recently. He has been a vocal critic of the league's new dynamic kickoff rules, describing them as 'terrible' and 'demeaning' during an appearance on the Pat McAfee show. His criticisms have now drawn a sharp rebuke from Super Bowl-winning Kansas City Chiefs special teams coach Dave Toub, who retorted: 'He doesn't even know what he's looking at. He has no idea what's going on with the kickoff rule.'
