While most parents avoid picking favorites, Colorado head coach Deion Sanders has never been one of them. He openly ranks his children, obviously, all in good spirits. His No. 1 spot often changes, but his youngest son, Shedeur, has held the top spot since being named to the Pro Bowl in his first NFL season. But according to Thursday’s update, Shedeur has lost that top spot.

“#1 Kid! @DeionSandersJr @WellOffmedia on @YouTube Love You son. #Dad,” wrote Deion Sanders on X, sharing a picture of his eldest son on a private jet.

But this is not the first time Deion Jr. has secured the top position. Before that, last August, for Deion’s 58th birthday, Bucky was again ranked No. 1, specifically for looking after his brother Shedeur during the NFL preseason. Then, last May, Deion Jr. returned to the top spot, being named the “MVP of all my kids.” However, that’s not all.

Back in 2023, on Deion Jr.’s 30th birthday, “Coach Prime” declared his eldest son the “favorite son” and the No. 1 kid in the rankings, citing his excellent work as the creative director for Well Off Media. Although the 32-year-old may have never played in the NFL, what he’s built off the field is turning heads in a whole different way.

As the creative force behind Well Off Media, he’s become the engine driving the Sanders family’s digital presence. Bucky has captured Deion Sanders’s rise at Colorado. From press conferences to rocking a custom Browns jersey in support of his brother, Shedeur, he has been the one covering everything. Last February, the channel reached a significant milestone of 500,000 subscribers, and as of now, it has approximately 648,000 subscribers.

This achievement doesn’t guarantee a permanent top spot in Deion Sanders’ favorite-child rankings. When Shedeur Sanders once climbed to No. 1 after his rookie NFL success, Deion Jr. sat as low as No. 4. Still, the most intriguing fact is that every child has taken a turn at the top: Deiondra Sanders held the spot after becoming a mother, while Shelomi was considered the “favorite” after scoring a career-high 14 points for the Alabama A&M women’s basketball team.

Then, Shilo Sanders also held that spot back in 2023. At that time, Deion Sanders officially declared Shilo as the No. 1 kid in his rankings following several of his strong defensive performances for Colorado, including a standout game against Colorado State, where he returned an interception for a TD. Still, for Deion Sanders, one could argue that his youngest son, Shedeur, now making waves in the NFL, might be his favorite.

But here, the rankings are always updated based on their milestones in life. Shedeur has lost his top spot this time, but his NFL journey seems set to take a bright turn next season.

All eyes on Shedeur Sanders

Climbing from a fifth-round pick and third-string QB in 2025 to finishing the season as the Browns’ QB1, Shedeur Sanders has been turning heads in Cleveland. With that, he looks poised to open 2026 under center. But the path won’t be easy, because Deshaun Watson looms as a formidable challenger.

Still, a quiet shift may be turning into a loud opportunity in Cleveland. With new head coach Todd Monken declaring an open competition, all eyes are on Shedeur Sanders, and local voices are already connecting the dots. In that case, radio hosts Anthony Lima and Ken Carman both pointed to one key offseason decision: the Browns passing on free agent Malik Willis.

“For Shedeur Sanders, it is a massive win,” said Lima, noting that adding another QB could have complicated the picture. Then, Carman echoed the sentiment, adding, “I really do think it’s Shedeur’s job to lose.”

While the buzz is growing around Sanders, Monken will ultimately make the call. Let’s see what transpires ahead of the 2026 season.