Picture this: A young athlete with Hall of Fame blood running through his veins, stepping into the NFL grind, only to find the doors steadily closing. Shilo Sanders, son of Deion ‘Coach Prime’ Sanders, signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent. But a preseason punch against a Buffalo Bills player led to his ejection and release.

No NFL team has signed him since.

The Washington Commanders recently brought in safety Darnell Savage for a visit, underlining that teams are passing on Sanders as they fill their rosters with other safeties.

This isn’t just another free-agent story. It feels like the league is sending a message. The Jacksonville Jaguars signed a different safety, and the Los Angeles Chargers moved on quickly after Khalil Mack’s injury.

Even the Dallas Cowboys, whose owner, Jerry Jones, had courted Deion Sanders personally to help shape the 90s dynasty, are holding back. Shilo’s reputation took a hit with that punch, despite prior praise for his athleticism through the offseason.

And one can’t help but to go back to what the Bucs head coach said. Todd Bowles made it crystal clear: “You can’t throw punches in this league. That’s inexcusable… They’re going to get you every time. You’ve got to grow from that.” 

Behind the scenes, Shilo is stuck in limbo. His agent is pushing hard, looking for practice squad options or a shot in the UFL. The Canadian Football League’s Toronto Argonauts hold exclusive rights to him, having placed Shilo on their negotiation list.

But the NFL remains his priority. Alas, six years of college play, and solid tackling don’t seem enough to beat a crowded safety market. NFL general managers aren’t moving beyond the final game footage where Sanders got ejected. So, is this the end? 

It’s a stark contrast to the shadow of his father’s legendary career. But Deion Sanders remains vocal, supportive, proud and realistic.

After Shilo got cut by Tampa Bay, Deion had noted, “I prepare my kids for anything and everything that can happen in life and in sports… he is mentally where he needs to be, physically where he needs to be. We’re praying that he gets another opportunity to go with another team. But if he doesn’t, the plans have already been formed for what he’s gonna do next. Shilo’s a man of many talents.”

For Shilo, the path ahead is a test of patience and resilience; waiting for a call that might not come while the league moves on. But if that’s the case, what is he going to do next? Well, that’s a question with multiple answers…

Shilo Sanders’ next career step?

At 25, Shilo Sanders isn’t just a football player stuck on the bubble. His ambitions stretch far beyond the gridiron.

As he noted himself after the cut, “I’ll be talking to my agent and we’re waiting on the next opportunity. If that’s in the NFL, cool. But God has blessed me with a lot of talent to do things other than football.”

He became a model last year, walking for the Louis Vuitton fashion show in Paris along with his brother Shedeur Sanders. He has also dabbled in music, releasing a rap song called ‘Hate 2 Love.’ And if all else fails, there’s an acting career that could be in the works.

Shilo has showcased his acting chops by playing a younger version of his father in the TV series ‘BMF’ back in 2021. His social media and interviews reveal a person fully aware that a football career might not be his forever ride.

As Deion Sanders had revealed recently, acting might be what Shilo works towards if his NFL career comes to an absolute standstill.

“I was gonna go down that avenue once upon a time. I think that’s the avenue that-or streaming like iShowsSpeed–that Shilo’s going to go down. Cause he has that gift, man. It’s a very attractive personality.” 

In a candid YouTube video last August, Shilo talked about the NFL as the “Not For Long” league, emphasizing the need for a backup plan.

“You always want to have other interests that you’re interested in,” Shilo noted. “I’ve always done that my whole life playing football, with music, acting, modeling. I’m well versed, and my parents make sure of that, so I’ve been prepared for anything that happen, cause you never know what could happen.”

The relentless churn of the NFL may be a closing chapter for Shilo Sanders, but a new adventure’s already be taking shape. Whether the next call comes from an NFL front office or a casting director, one thing is clear. This is far from the last act of Shilo Sanders’ story.