BOULDER — For one Sunday afternoon, Deion Sanders got to sit alone in his office and be a proud dad.

As Coach Prime returned to campus from the second of two bye weeks for his Colorado team, his son and program’s former star quarterback, Shedeur Sanders, made his NFL debut for the Cleveland Browns, replacing an injured Dillon Gabriel midway through a 23-16 loss to the Baltimore Ravens.

“I told him this past week that he was gonna play,” Deion said. “I didn’t want him to get in by injury because I’m fond of Dillon and I want him to be successful, as well. Getting in the way he did, I knew it was gonna be some inconsistencies of a lot of things because I know football. I was happy for him just getting the opportunity and running on that field because I know the fight behind the fight, if I can say that modestly.”

Shedeur finished 4-for-16 passing for 47 yards with an interception after entering in the third quarter. He’s in line to make his first career start this Sunday at the Las Vegas Raiders with Gabriel in concussion protocol. 

After shining with the Buffaloes for two seasons, throwing for over 7,300 passing yards and 64  touchdowns and winning the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award as a senior, Sanders was drafted by the Browns with No. 144 overall pick (fifth round) in the 2025 draft. 

He entered the summer as the team’s fourth-string quarterback, behind Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett and Gabriel, who was picked one round ahead of Sanders. 

Following trades of Flacco and Pickett, Gabriel has been the starter since early October with Sanders serving as the primary backup. Cleveland coach Kevin Stefanski admitted after Sunday’s game that it was the first time Sanders worked with much of the first-team offense.

“I know what’s been transpiring behind the curtains and I’m just proud of him because he’s not just saying the right things, he’s doing and living the right things,” Coach Prime said. “That’s just who he is and I’m glad through trials and tribulations there has been a consistency of the thread he’s been speaking.

“I thank God that God prepared him for everything that he’s dealing with. I think a lesser man would’ve crumbled.”

During Sunday’s game, however, Shedeur’s home was burglarized and police say approximately $200,000 worth of property was stolen.