QB Shedeur Sanders (12.7.25)
Shedeur, when you drive the offense down the field, you know, you have the opportunity to tie the game. What was going through your mind when you’re taken off the field, and you see the play go the way it goes?
“I was thankful that we was driving down the field and we scored.”
Did you wish you had the ball in your hand in that moment to tie the game?
“If I’m out there any play, you know, I would wish I would always have the ball in my hand, but that’s not what football is. Sometimes you got to run the ball, sometimes you got to kick a field goal. You know, everything like, that’s the game. That’s the most important thing, is the ball. So in any situation, of course you would want to. But I know we practiced something, and we executed it in practice, and we just didn’t seem to this day. So, I would never go against, you know, kind of like what the call was or anything.”
Did it work in practice?
“Nah, we just called in the game, and it didn’t work in practice. I don’t think you call plays in the game that didn’t work in practice.”
Shedeur, what was working for you so well today in what looked like pretty bad conditions out there?
“What was working for me, I’ll say, God. God was working for me, honestly. The way how he, I would say, let me be mentally clear out there. The game is mental, and a lot of different situations. I would say, when it’s a lot of confusion, when it’s a lot of adversity, when it’s a lot of things, you know, going on, that’s when I feel like God steps in the most for me, to be able to help me stay mentally clear and mentally close to him. So, I would say that’s definitely what was working for me today.”
How important was that after the interception to be able to stay clear and then come back and lead those two drives in the last, whatever, 6-8 minutes?
“Yeah, definitely, on the interception, I’d say, I feel we stagnant. You know, I’m trying to get a spark. I’m trying to, you know, so that’s all it is. And as the game goes on, as time go on, and I know my dad mad at me for that, for sure. I know the team, you know, everybody is. But I would say as time goes on, those decisions and those things, you know, will slim down. And we won’t be in situations where I have that feeling, you know, like, I got to make something happen. So, yeah.”
Shedeur, on the one to Harold (Fannin Jr.), the last touchdown, was he the intended target there? When you let it go, did you know he was going to get it?
“Nah. Alright, come on. Who would be the intended target?”
The whole play, not the throw, the whole play.
“I got you. I got you. Yes, I was intentionally throwing it to him. And he caught it, made a play, and yeah.”
What happened on the first two-point drive?
“That was on me. That was on me.”
Did you not get a grasp on the ball, did it slip out?
“Yeah, the result was a fumbled snap. So that’s on me.”
Shedeur, I know you said like that second play, two-point trial was something you had practiced. But it wasn’t a surprise to me that you were gonna go to after you scored, right? Because, I know Kevin (Stefanski) was saying, like, that was always the plan, so that wasn’t a surprise to you.
“No. Yeah, nothing we do out there on the field is a surprise to me, honestly. Like, we practice for situations. We do everything. And if they knew it would pan out like that, I don’t think they, would have did it. I don’t think in any situation, if we feel like something’s not gonna be as successful, intentionally call it, and then, you know, just be surprised when it don’t work. You know what I mean? So I think every play, I think that’s the whole league – any play you go into a game with, you expect success. And if that don’t happen, that don’t happen.”
Shedeur, the result obviously wasn’t what you wanted, but what do you think you may have shown today in coming back, overcoming all the adversity that you had in this game, including losing your center and also already being down two lineman?
“I’d say God’s present.”
What about just the ability? I mean, do you think you showed just the moxie, the never say die relentlessness, the ability to just come back and just fight to the bitter end?
“I’ve been this way. So, this is God showing a lot of people who I am. You know, a lot of circumstances, you know, will sometimes get you mentally not in your best place. And you got to find your happy place. You got to find that it for you. So, I think that’s kind of, I’ve been praying and doing a lot, you know, talking to God this week in general, to get back to that place, you know, to get back there. So, yeah, it’s him. He the one did it for me.”
Shedeur, you talked this week about trying to work on the time on task. How do you think that felt today of getting through that whole process and being a little better in that area?
“Well, I’ll say it’s more faith based, and just committing to it. You know, obviously me and Jerry (Jeudy) had that dispute or whatever last week. But I have faith in him, he has faith in me, and everybody put everything aside and, ‘okay, cool, let’s go out there, play ball’. God forgive everybody else, so why not we forgive each other. When you go in situations, you have no negativity, no hate on your heart, no anything, and you out there enjoying, having fun, then that’s the result you’re going to be able to get. So, that was the message in pregame – we all together, we got to be as one, no matter what happens – good, bad, ugly, we got to stay together. So that’s just a testimony for real.”
Speaking of Jerry, just on the touchdown throw to him, how did that play develop, what did you see and how nice was it to be able to connect with him for that score?
“It was truly exciting being able to connect with him, because I know the season in a lot…kind of like, hasn’t gone the way he wanted to this year. So, the fact that one decision from me could bring somewhat joy in his life and be able to help the team out overall, that brings me peace, that brings me happiness. So, just being able to just see clearly, being able to do what I need, and the staff and everybody helping me and getting me prepared how I need to get prepared for games and everything, I’m just thankful for it.”
Do you feel like you’re more in command now? Do you feel like it’s more, quote, unquote, your team as the quarterback now compared to a couple weeks ago?
“I mean, a couple weeks ago I wasn’t the starter. It was only like, what, the second, third game?”
Just how much more comfortable do you feel in that role?
“I mean, I’m comfortable being uncomfortable. You got to understand, like, that’s just kind of like the situation I’m in, and I’m fine with that, I love that. Because my story and everything inspires people to make sure, even if they’re in uncomfortable positions and situations, to stay on course, and keep that mental strong, and be able to push through adversity, knowing that you’ll be able to see the other side one day. So that’s kind of what it is.”
When you ran it in and threw that touchdown pass and were bringing the Browns back there at the end, how much love did you feel from the Dawg Pound and the fans? Can you just feel the excitement here and what it’s going to be like when you guys get this thing going?
“Yeah. I always seen the excitement. Since draft day, I’ve seen the excitement, so ain’t nothing changed with it at all. But joy, like, deep down within myself, that’s where I felt the most excitement, because it’s like…sometimes you don’t know if you’re going to get in that place, you don’t know if you’re going to get in the end zone. It’s a lot that come with this game, it’s a lot to even get on the field. So, it’s like, the fact to be able to start making that a habit, that’s new to me, that’s something different for me. So, I’m just thankful for that.”
I know you always talk about getting better, better and better. These next few weeks, what would you like to accomplish – obviously, besides win, what would you like to accomplish, in terms of improving every single start?
“I feel like, this week, we have improved from sideline communication – just keeping everybody chill, keeping everybody under one tent, basically. Communication with everybody – just checking everybody’s temperature, how everybody feeling, what we need to do offensively, what players are comfortable with everything. So, I feel like that was something that I feel like we improved this week. Going into next week, of course, there’ll be timing, and you’ll being able to anticipate a little bit more, being able to do different things, see throws I missed, how to get in that rhythm early on. It’s a lot of things, I would say, that we go into a week trying to improve, and we gotta look at the film. I know I didn’t play perfect, so it’s definitely…being able to see that, being able to go over and rekindle my thoughts on what I missed and why I missed it, to get to the root of everything, so then it won’t be a consistent problem. So, every week, we looking to change mentally, physically, and emotionally, so then we all are in a better place for next week.”
# # #
***Visit the Browns Media Center for materials provided by the Browns communications department, including media schedules, press releases, quotes, photos, media guides, rosters, depth charts and more.***