Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders knows who he is and what he’s looking for — including in a potential partner.
Sanders, 24, opened up about dating and pushed back against WAG culture in the NFL, explaining his point of view in a feature for Cosmopolitan, published on Thursday, October 8.
“I got that question during the draft — how do I feel about WAGs,” he said. “Some coaches and people didn’t understand what I was saying. But how can I expect them to understand what I’m saying? I’m second-generation, so I look at a lot of things differently. It’s a different type of pressure. It’s a different type of attention you’re gonna get when you’re dating me.”
The Browns drafted Sanders in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft. Around that time, he was asked if there was a “special woman” in his life, prompting Sanders to respond that the “special woman” is his mom, Pilar. (Pilar, 51, and NFL legend Deion Sanders share Shedeur as well as son Shiloh and daughter Shelomi. Shedeur also has two half-siblings from Deion’s first marriage, Deiondra and Deion Sanders Jr.)
In terms of dating, Shedeur told Cosmopolitan that he’s looking for someone who is driven in whatever career field they choose.
“I’m more about, ‘What do you do now? And where are you trying to go? Are you trying to accomplish your goals in life?’” he explained. “Because that’s what I do. Every day, I try to accomplish my goal, so I know what it feels like. I know what it looks like. And if you know what that feels like, you know what that looks like, then you’re gonna be able to enjoy vacation a little bit more. You’re gonna want to put the phone down and vibe a lot more.”
But asked to share what his ideal woman is like, from looks to profession, Shedeur responded, “If I knew that, I’d be cuffed right now.”
Not that he’s looking to be “cuffed” immediately. He’s looking more for a slow burn relationship.
“Let’s truly be friends first,” Shedeur said. “I don’t plan on dying anytime soon. I’m in it for the long game. A lot of people like to rush too quickly.”
He added, “I protect my family, and I protect who I love. I’m extremely picky with who comes around.”
One thing holding Shedeur back, however, is that being the son of a polarizing figure like Deion, 59, means that people assume they know him before they give him a chance.
“I wish people understood me more as a human being,” he said. “I don’t think a lot of people really know me. I’m just now starting to understand that. You hear a lot of things online, but every encounter I have in person, people end up saying, ‘Oh, wow, he’s actually a great guy.’ Why would you think I’m a bad guy?”
Sanders has thrown exactly one pass during the 2026 regular season, having been jumped by veteran quarterback Deshaun Watson for the starting job in Cleveland. So far, it’s been difficult to argue with the Browns’ decision-making. They currently boast a 3-1 record, sitting in a tie atop the AFC North with the Baltimore Ravens.
