© Ryan Garza, Detroit Free Press
ESPN’s Kendrick Perkins has some major praise for Shedeur Sanders.
Over the weekend, Sanders won his first NFL game despite not receiving many first-team reps with the offense during the season, and fans accused the Browns of trying to hold him back,
“I think I showed a couple of great pieces, and there’s some things I wish I could get back,” Sanders said after his big win. “But man, a win is crazy. It’s amazing. You know? Off of one week of practice. This is one week of practice! So imagine what a full offseason look like! It get dangerous!”
“A lot of people want to see me fail and … it’s ain’t gonna happen. It ain’t gonna happen,”
During a recent podcast appearance, Perkins compared Sanders’ influence to that of President Obama in 2009.
“Shedeur Sanders is the most powerful black man since 2009. You know what happened in 2009? That’s when President (Barack) Obama got elected in office.””He’s the most powerful black man since 2009… When Shedeur Sanders is on the field, and when I say powerful, powerful because it’s two sides of it. Right, think about it.””You got the black community. He’s bringing the whole black community together. I ain’t ran across one black person that done said one bad thing about Shedeur.
Perkins goes on to explain that he believes Sander is the “most powerful player in sports.”
“That’s because he has the balance. He has the balance of that I’m arrogant, but I’m humble too.””He’s having fun with this. He’s the most powerful black man in sports. As a matter of fact, he’s the most powerful player in sports.”
Kendrick Perkins says Shedeur Sanders is the most powerful black man since President Obama
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) November 26, 2025
Fans mocked Perkins on social media.
It’s always him taking it too far lmao https://t.co/vflnD5pubf
— L&L BBQ (@roxroyj) November 26, 2025
This is one of the worst takes I have ever heard https://t.co/6oko0e6KiD
— Matt Jones (@KySportsRadio) November 26, 2025