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By many accounts, Shedeur Sanders was statistically one of the worst quarterbacks in the NFL this season — yet he still received one of the league’s highest honors.
The NFL announced Tuesday that the Cleveland Browns quarterback was named to the AFC Pro Bowl.
Quarterbacks going to the Pro Bowl from the AFC were Buffalo Bills’ Josh Allen, Los Angeles Chargers’ Justin Herbert and New England Patriots’ Drake Maye. With Maye set to play in Super Bowl LX after defeating the Denver Broncos in the AFC Championship Game, a replacement was necessary.
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Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders walks off the field after the game against the Cleveland Browns and the Cincinnati Bengals on January 4, 2026 at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati, OH. (Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The choice of Sanders, however, got a lot of laughs on social media, including from New York Giants offensive lineman Jermaine Eluemunor.
“No hate but the Pro Bowl a joke lol,” Eluemunor wrote to X on Monday. “[Andrew Thomas] The top LT in the NFL hasn’t made one yet, but if you’re popular, you’ll come along. Ridiculous at this point.”
“Like I said no hate but how is Cam Ward not the replacement?lol both him and [Jaxson] Dart went off this season,” he added.
Sanders didn’t start the year with the Browns, but he made a good impression in the second half as he got the nod in the remaining seven games of the season and went 3-4 over that span. He won his first start, which allowed him to keep his job for the rest of the season.
Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders (12) passes against the San Francisco 49ers during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
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But the numbers weren’t pretty. He completed 56.6% of his passes for 1,400 yards with seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions in eight total games. The Pro Football Network rated him 42nd out of their 43 eligible quarterbacks. Among quarterbacks who threw more than 200 times, his 68.1 quarterback rating was the lowest in football, and he ranks near the bottom of several analytic metrics.
While going to a Pro Bowl is always a big accomplishment, Sanders knows nothing is solidified for his role in 2026. Browns general manager Andrew Berry told reporters after the season that he won’t commit to Sanders or any other quarterback for that matter.
Cleveland Browns’ Shedeur Sanders (12) and Teven Jenkins (74) celebrate a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans in Cleveland, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
“We’re going to do our job in the quarterback market,” Berry said. “It’s too important a position and it’s something that needs to be consolidated.”
