Shedeur Sanders‘ Pro Bowl pick has emerged as one of the most discussed topics in the NFL right now. Amid the brewing controversy and questions surrounding the Pro Bowl’s credibility, former NFL cornerback Richard Sherman highlighted how being named a Pro Bowl and playing a game are two completely different achievements. Pitching in a legendary comparison from his father, Deion Sanders, Sherman turned bold in his backing for the rookie quarterback.

“I’m happy for sure,” Sherman said in a video posted on Instagram. “You know, I think this will be good for the pro ball because of the attention and eyeballs that it should bring; people will watch because he’s playing, he has star power, he has a Lord, and he has all those things, just like his dad, the great Deion Sanders, Prime Time, if they stop giving credit for alternates.”

Sanders’ Pro Bowl selection added a major milestone to the start of his NFL career. The honor makes him one of three players representing the Cleveland Browns this year, alongside defensive standouts Myles Garrett and Denzel Ward. He also turned out to be the only Browns rookie selected. This highlighted the immediate impact he made in his first professional campaign.

His selection also places him in a rare franchise company. Sanders is the first Cleveland quarterback to reach the Pro Bowl since Derek Anderson in 2007. He now joins an exclusive list of Browns quarterbacks that includes legends such as Otto Graham, Brian Sipe, and Bernie Kosar. With this, the 23-year-old has become just the seventh rookie in franchise history to earn Pro Bowl recognition and the first since Ward accomplished the feat in 2018.

However, not everyone sees it as a big win for the young pro. Fans have been loud in their criticism of the Pro Bowl selections after the rookie was named as a replacement, despite finishing the season with just a 56.6 % completion rate, 1,400 passing yards, seven touchdowns, and 10 interceptions across eight games. Many on social media called the choice “an embarrassment” and argued that better quarterbacks were available.

The backlash further intensified when veteran Joe Flacco, who threw for 2,479 yards with 15 touchdowns and 10 interceptions in 2025, was also added to the roster. Both picks are currently being viewed as signs that the Pro Bowl has become more about popularity than performance, with some fans even calling for the event to be canceled entirely.

“Just cancel this embarrassment,” a fan wrote, per The Spun.”If we are at the point of putting anybody in, just cancel the Pro-Bowl.”

However, despite the heavy criticism, several big names besides Richard Sherman have stepped forward to back the young pro and his authority as a Pro Bowl pick.

Michael Irvin defends Shedeur Sanders’ selection

The decision to name Sanders to the Pro Bowl has sparked major debate, with many fans calling it one of the weakest selections in recent years. Some compared it to Tyler Huntley’s surprise Pro Bowl nod in 2022, when he earned the opportunity by starting just four games. Amid the heavy criticism at the league and the Pro Bowl Games, Michael Irvin offered a different approach, highlighting how the decision is a good one if viewed in terms of business.

“Are they putting him up there because they want to profit off him,” Irvin said. “Nobody cared about the Pro Bowl. Now everybody cares, everybody’s talking about the Pro Bowl. Nobody was talking about the Pro Bowl, but now everybody’s talking about the Pro Bowl. All of that may have something to do with it.”

Irvin further pitched Jake Paul’s example to explain how success in modern sports has changed. He said Paul turned his popularity into real currency, and the move allowed him to bypass the traditional path through amateur boxing. According to Irvin, Paul didn’t follow the old rules but still found massive success by leveraging attention.

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However, it seems like the fans continue to remain unconvinced. Many questioned how Sanders was selected over quarterbacks like Trevor Lawrence, who led the Jaguars to the playoffs. As the debate continues, it remains to be seen if the young QB creates history at the upcoming event.