Browns coach Kevin Stefanski names QB Shedeur Sanders starter for remainder of season

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2025-12-09

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The Cleveland Browns will ride Shedeur Sanders for the balance of the 2025 season.

Coach Kevin Stefanski announced Monday that the fifth-round rookie would be the starter for the rest of the campaign.

“He has constantly and consistently gotten better in each one of these games and how he’s approached this game,” Stefanski said. “He’s been working very hard, so I feel good about where his development is heading. He knows there are always going to be plays that he can be better and those type of things. But he’s very intentional about getting better each and every game he’s out there.”

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The decision felt fait accompli after Sanders had performed well in his first three starts of the season, but Stefanski making it official should ward off the persistent questions.

On Sunday, the Browns fell 31-29 at home to Tennessee, but Sanders did his part, slashing big plays and keeping Cleveland in the shootout. The rookie went 23-of-42 for 364 yards, three touchdown passes, one interception and added a team-high 29 rushing yards and another score. Sanders hit career-highs in completion percentage, passing yards and passing touchdowns. He became the second rookie since at least 1970 with 350-plus passing yards, three-plus passing TDs and one-plus rushing TD in a single game (Joe Burrow in Week 7; 2020 vs. CLE).

Sanders’ ability to stretch the field has helped open a restricted offense. The rookie has shown excellent touch downfield and can thread the needle when needed. He joined Aaron Rodgers as the only other QB since 2000 to have four-plus completions of 50-plus yards in their first three career starts.

Sunday’s interception was one area where Sanders can clean up his game. In the third quarter, the QB felt pressure and drifted backwards significantly before heaving a late prayer over the middle that was swiped. He can also improve at getting the ball out quicker. He leads the NFL with a 3.39-second time to throw among QBs with at least 100 attempts.

Those are both issues that play-time down the stretch can help develop. With Stefanski’s announcement, Sanders has the next four weeks to audition for the 2026 role.