
Browns HC Responds to Shedeur Sanders Prank Call Incident
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
The Cleveland Browns finally ended the slide of well-known quarterback Shedeur Sanders after selecting him with the 144th pick in the 2025 NFL draft. Formerly projected as a first-rounder, Sanders ended up going in the fifth round instead.
A lot of people have been clowning Sanders for the fall, especially after going after multiple other quarterbacks, including his new teammate Dillon Gabriel, who went 94th overall.
More NFL News: Shedeur Sanders NFL Draft Celebration Goes Viral
One person even went as far as to prank call the young QB out of Colorado, which while funny to fans, was likely hurtful to Sanders and those around him.
Apparently, someone somehow got access to Sanders's phone which was only supposed to receive calls from NFL general managers, and the person pretended to be Saints GM Mickey Loomis.
This phone call occurred before the 40th pick in the NFL draft, which the Saints used on Tyler Shough instead.
After the Browns selected Sanders in the NFL draft, head coach Kevin Stefanski was asked about the prank call.
Kevin Stefanski, asked about the prank call to Shedeur Sanders:
"People are morons."
"It's sad." — Andrew Siciliano (@AndrewSiciliano) April 26, 2025
"People are morons. It's sad."
As mentioned before, the fall of Sanders, especially with his huge fame among the media due to being Deion Sanders's son, has been celebrated by fans, but a prank call of this nature is crossing the line.
Especially when taking into consideration how much effort the person had to put in to get access to the number, it is especially crazy.
Former Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Shedeur Sanders looks on before the Black and Gold Spring Game at Folsom Field on April 19, 2025 in Boulder, Colorado.
Former Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Shedeur Sanders looks on before the Black and Gold Spring Game at Folsom Field on April 19, 2025 in Boulder, Colorado.for ONIT
The pick of Sanders itself is an interesting one, as the Browns were at one point rumored to be interested in him with the second overall pick, but instead they selected him in the fifth round as the second quarterback they selected in the draft.
The Browns in general, had an interesting draft, selecting two quarterbacks and two running backs. They also traded down from the second pick in the draft to pass on Travis Hunter.
More NFL news: How to Buy Shedeur Sanders Cleveland Browns Jersey
Originally, people thought there was a chance that Hunter and Sanders would be teammates once again in the NFL. If the Browns hadn't traded down, that could've happened.
Overall, the whole Sanders situation is a bit sad and confusing, as it seems like a lot of information fans don't know about are the reasons he fell in the draft. Just going based on his play on the field, most would agree he should've been at least a second-round pick.
At least for him, his new coach is defending him and calling out someone who crossed the line in hating on his draft stock.
For more NFL news and complete coverage of the 2025 NFL Draft, head over to Newsweek Sports.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


USA Today
29 minutes ago
- USA Today
This 76-yard TD by Sam Mills is the Saints Play of the Day
Mills once stripped a fumble from the QB, recovered it, and covered 76 yards on the return Our countdown to the New Orleans Saints' 2025 season opener is on Day 76, which makes this touchdown from Sam Mills our pick for the Saints Play of the Day. It was an impressive play at the time, but it also went down in the team record books as the longest play of Mills' storied NFL career. That isn't normally something you track for linebackers, but watch the play and you'll see why it matters. Mills, the future Pro Football Hall of Famer, stripped the football from New York Jets quarterback Browning Nagle and covered 76 yards on the return to score for New Orleans -- you can see the entire play here. Mills set the tone early in what would be a 20-0 shutout win on the road for the Saints, capping their 1992 season with a 12-4 record. That tied a franchise record for the most wins in the regular season. It's not a surprise that Mills was the player to step up in a moment like this. The "Field Mouse" was known for punching above his weight class (he was listed at just 5-foot-9 and 229 pounds) and making plays other guys only dreamt of; this was the first of three fumbles he returned for a touchdown in his NFL career, and his 18th takeaway in seven years with the Saints. He earned his fourth Pro Bowl nod back in 1992 and was also selected for the All-Pro second team by the Associated Press. Mills went on to become a legend with the startup Carolina Panthers, too, but he earned his place in pro football history with the Saints first.
Yahoo
33 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Rashod Bateman shares his expectations for Jaire Alexander and DeAndre Hopkins
Though the NFL prides itself on parity, some franchises go about their business better than others. Sure, we can say it's June, and every team has a chance. That isn't accurate. Those who are fans of, say, two teams in Ohio woke up this morning knowing their teams won't be playing in Super Bowl 60. The Baltimore Ravens don't have that problem. They have been one of pro football's model franchises for a while. The best part about that is they're always looking to improve. Look no further than the acquisitions they have made this offseason. Saying there has been some discourse on Baltimore's acquisition of Jaire Alexander has been an understatement. That one made so many waves that DeAndre Hopkins took a backseat for a few days, but fear not, both will have their opportunity to make their mark on the 2025-26 Ravens and what should be another run at glory. Extending Rashod Bateman was another of the wise (and necessary) offseason moves to solidify the roster moving forward. Bateman was recently a guest on NFL Network's The Insiders, and they wasted no time asking him about his new teammates. It appears the guys are getting along. It seems things are trending in the right direction. Here's a message to the rest of the NFL. Everyone is on notice. Hopkins and Alexander's acquisitions, along with every other move the Ravens have made, lead us back to a simple theory. It's Super Bowl 60 or bust for Baltimore during the coming regular and postseason. This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Rashod Bateman shares expectations for two all-star Ravens additions
Yahoo
39 minutes ago
- Yahoo
New Texans DB C.J. Gardner-Johnson listed as extension candidate before taking field
New Texans DB C.J. Gardner-Johnson listed as extension candidate before taking field originally appeared on Athlon Sports. When the Texans made the move to acquire an anchor in the secondary earlier in the offseason, there were some questions around the long-term impact of the move. The organization moved on from one of its former first-round picks, guard Kenyon Green, but got one of the league's premier safeties in return. Advertisement While he hasn't taken a snap in Houston yet, that hasn't stopped the predictions from rolling in about new defensive cornerstone C.J. Gardner-Johnson. Recently, Moe Moton from Bleacher Report listed the Space City safety as the Texan who is most important for the organization to lock up for the long haul. Texans defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson was listed by Bleacher Report as the top candidate for an extension in Houston heading into the 2025 NFL Season.© Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images "Typically, teams should wait for a new acquisition to take a snap before signing him to a new deal, but Gardner-Johnson is past the prove-it stage of his career," Moton said of the new Houston defensive back in his article. "He logged six interceptions in two of the last three seasons, recorded 12 pass breakups last year and plays multiple positions at a high level. The Texans know what they acquired when they traded for him. He's an underpaid addition with only $2 million guaranteed on his contract for the year." The full trade between the Philadelphia Eagles and Houston Texans back in early March included Gardner-Johnson and a 2026 sixth-round pick going to Houston while the Eagles got the aforementioned Kenyon Green and a 2025 fifth-round pick that turned into linebacker Smael Mondon Jr. Advertisement As Moton mentioned in his explanation for choosing Gardner-Johnson, the seventh-year defensive back has entered a stage in his career where he is veteran who has proved his worth and brings more than on-field skill to the organization. Across 74 games in his career, he has 18 interceptions, 51 pass deflections and 2 forced fumbles. His 2024 campaign was one of his best, with him tying his career high in interceptions with 6 and running one back 69 yards for his first career pick six in Week 17 against the Dallas Cowboys. Gardner-Johnson's impact extends beyond the field. The veteran has an off-field presence that is one of the biggest in the league and he will be a vocal lead in a deep defensive backs group this year in Houston. Advertisement "He [Gardner-Johnson] gonna bring a whole nother, like, just.. like Kamari [Lassiter], like craziness," Texans cornerback and defensive captain Derek Stingley Jr. told the media after the trade news broke. "I think he'll gel well with the rest of us and we're just gonna go out there and have fun." Now, it's a waiting game to see if Houston decides to lock up its new playmaker long term. Any deal would likely come before Texans training camp kicks off on July 22. Related: Texans' C.J. Stroud Jokingly Throws Jab at Bears QB Caleb Williams This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 23, 2025, where it first appeared.