Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders admonished a reporter during his press conference following the Browns loss to the Buffalo Bills in Week 16. Sanders’ response to the question is largely receiving praise from within NFL circles.
Following the Cleveland Browns’ narrow loss to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, which dropped their record on the season to 3-12, Shedeur Sanders was asked whether he thought the coaches made the right decision to go for it on a particular 4th down.
Sanders didn’t engage with the question, however, as he instead admonished the reporter for asking it, as he believes it does nothing other than sew further division into the team.
Shedeur Sanders admonished a reporter for asking whether or not he agreed with the coaching staff’s decision to go for it on 4th down
“I know you can’t be asking me that question, man. Come on, man,” Sanders responded. “See that’s the thing. If we want to change, if we want to change the narrative, change the franchise, if we want to help, we got to speak. Those type of things separate us. A lot of the players get these type of questions, and then we want to be working with y’all. We want to be proactive.”
“But when you ask questions or when questions are asked to us players and it’s like you pinning stuff against each other, it’s like, come on now,” he continued.
“It’s like being in a locker room. We’re not going to be able to talk to them for real. We’re not going to be able to give them what they need because that separates the team. That don’t help anything. It don’t help anything in any situation, no matter how you answer it.”
Shedeur Sanders on being asked if the coaching decisions were right vs. the Bills pic.twitter.com/SzCsOAC2mX
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) December 21, 2025
The rookie signal caller was widely praised by NFL fans for the maturity of his response.
This is such a mature, professional answer from #Browns QB Shedeur Sanders:
(📽️ @NFLonFOX)pic.twitter.com/4HNgNwvuZm
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) December 22, 2025
10/10 answer https://t.co/yij8jlJMHK
— AT (@primediscussion) December 21, 2025
I appreciate his maturity. Ever since that pantomiming situation, he hasn’t done or said anything to fan the flame. https://t.co/zHKBuceDhe
— Diante Lee (@DianteLeeFB) December 22, 2025
“idc if he ends up a bust i really appreciate how much this kid has changed his persona and taking the high road every week when there is a lot of questionable decisions,” one tweet read.
“Credit for his awareness and calling them out on these types of questions. Trying to set players up to sound like complainers all the time,” said another.
“I do like that Shedeur doesn’t let the press bait him into trashing his teammates or coaches,” a third added.
In the 23-20 home loss to the Buffalo Bills, Sanders completed 20 of 29 passes for 157 yards, 1 touchdown and 2 interceptions.
The Browns will close out their difficult 2025 season with a home matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers this weekend before finishing out the campaign on the road against the Cleveland Brown.