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Cam Newton questions Shedeur Sanders' NFL future, suggests nepotism carried him in college

by:Alex Byington•about 12 hours•

_AlexByington

Shedeur Sanders-Cam Newton
Sheduer Sanders (Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images) | Cam Newton (© Rob Schumacher / USA TODAY NETWORK)

Cam Newton said the quiet part out loud.

During a heated discussion about Deion Sanders‘ recent comments revealing the only way he’d leave for an NFL head coaching job was if he was able to coach his sons, Shedeur and Shilo, the Heisman Trophy winning quarterback from Auburn — who went No. 1 overall in the 2011 NFL Draft — questioned whether Shedeur Sanders can even be coached by someone other than his famous father.

“As a realist, somebody has to put their foot down and speak facts. I believe in nepotism. I believe everything that you’re doing you’ve got to put your people on. He’s done that. But when you think about this statistic right here, Coach Prime has coached his son Shedeur in rec ball, … he coached him high school, he coached him in college. … My biggest question for Shedeur Sanders is can he be coached by other people outside of his father,” Newton said on Friday morning’s First Take. “Because when you look in the real world, … when you think about this statistic, you’ve only had one coach since you were 8 years old, and now you’re 22. Have you built this protection around (him), … has he really been coached the right way to be able to say, ‘Hey, boy sit down and shut – oh, that’s Shedeur, hold on, can you please sit down?’

“Because the offensive coordinator or the quarterback coach is employed by his dad. That’s the realist. And what do you say to the NFL locker room, to the veterans that have earned their right. Another question I have is, from what we’ve seen from Anthony Richardson this year, from what we’ve seen from Bryce Young this year, can Deion bench his son? Can Deion cut his son? Shilo, or even (Shedeur) given that situation,” Newton continued. “It’s the big leagues in the NFL, and I know what that NFL locker room is going to look like, because now you’re talking to men-men, not boys. You’re talking to men that  probably make more money than you. … That’s something to just think about.”

Deion Sanders reveals he ‘would consider’ taking NFL head coaching job to coach sons

Shedeur and Shilo Sanders have played their final games in a Colorado uniform — but will it be the last time they’re coached by their father, Deion Sanders?

Rumors surrounding Coach Prime in the NFL have made the rounds throughout the season, which he’s shot down in the past. He appeared on Good Morning America on Wednesday morning, however, and was asked whether or not he’d ever make the jump to the NFL.

“The only way I would consider, is to coach my sons,” he told GMA. “Not son. Sons.”

It’s easier said than done getting Sanders’ sons on the same team. Shedeur Sanders, considered the No. 1 QB in the 2025 NFL Draft per ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr., isn’t expected to have to wait long to hear his name called this April. But Shilo Sanders, a safety, could potentially be a third-day option.

Still, it doesn’t appear as though he’s ready to move on from college football just yet, especially after leading the Buffaloes to a 9-4 record and helping coach two-way star Travis Hunter to the Heisman Trophy.

“I love Colorado. Now, I love my Buffaloes. I love everything that we’re building,” he continued. “I love everything that we’re doing and I love Boulder, Colorado. I do.”

Barkley Truax contributed to this report.