Long before NFL cameras caught Shilo Sanders in a heated preseason moment, the headlines had already been bold thanks to a legal mess dating back to 2015, when he was just 15. The fallout from that fight has shadowed him ever since, with a court ruling now hanging over his head like a guillotine. A decade later, the situation is still unresolved, and the weight of it is only growing heavier.

John Darjean, a former security guard, claimed Sanders “severely and permanently” injured him during that schoolyard scuffle. Darjean eventually won a default judgment of $11.89 million after Sanders failed to appear in court. Even a Chapter 7 bankruptcy filing in 2023 couldn’t erase the debt, since courts rarely wipe away money tied to what they call “willful and malicious injury.” That legal baggage would be enough to derail most players… And then came Saturday night’s punch.

Todd Bowles delivered the kind of swift, no-nonsense decision rookies dread. Less than 24 hours after Sanders was ejected for throwing a punch in a preseason game, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers announced they were waiving him. Son of NFL Hall of Famer Deion Sanders. Brother of the Browns QB Shedeur Sanders. Carrying the weight of his last name, Shilo came in undrafted in 2025 and had been fighting to stick on the roster.

According to Jordan Schultz, the Bucs wasted no time: “Sources: The #Bucs are waiving rookie S Shilo Sanders.” Bowles didn’t sugarcoat things after the ejection either: “You can’t throw punches in this league. I mean, that’s inexcusable. They’re gonna get you every time. Gotta grow from that.” Tough words for a player barely on the roster bubble. Sanders, who signed a three-year deal worth nearly $3 million, leaves Tampa with just four tackles in the preseason… And a career now clouded by both legal and football strikes against him.

Before the preseason finale, Bowles had actually spoken on Sanders’ potential, saying, “Shilo’s very aggressive, very young, very hungry. He can make plays in the box, and we know he can run down and give us 100% on special teams. So, this last week is going to be very important for those guys to show up.” Bowles had reason to hope Sanders could carve out a role on the team, especially given the player’s family pedigree and raw ability. But the potential didn’t translate into patience on the field.

The clock is ticking fast for Sanders to bounce back, prove his worth, and maybe carve out his own path away from the shadow of his famous family. That’s a heavy cloud for a player trying to kickstart an NFL career while barely holding onto a roster spot. For now, Bowles made it crystal clear: discipline isn’t optional, especially when you’re fighting to stick. But what exactly went wrong on the field?

Shilo Sanders’ preseason fight

The incident happened during the Buccaneers’ preseason finale against the Buffalo Bills, and it all started with a physical, rough block by Bills TE Zach Davidson on Sanders. Davidson’s aggressive move didn’t just ruffle feathers – it visibly rattled Sanders. After the play ended, tempers flared. Sanders, already known for his feisty and aggressive style, lost his composure and threw a punch directly at Davidson’s helmet – right in front of an official.

The reaction was swift. Sanders was flagged for unnecessary roughness and promptly ejected from the game. The scuffle itself was brief but intense, with another angle even showing Davidson digging fingers into Sanders’ facemask during their tussle. In a show of bravado, Davidson mocked Sanders with a “too small” gesture as he left the field. For Sanders, a rookie fighting for a roster spot and listed third on the safety depth chart, this rookie mistake couldn’t have come at a worse moment.

Sanders’ agents, Drew Rosenhaus and Robert Bailey, are hopeful he’ll get claimed off waivers. But the hurried cut shows how quickly the game moves past mistakes. For Shilo, this is a harsh lesson in NFL discipline where talent is only part of the equation. And temperament counts just as much, if not more.

With the legal battle, underwhelming preseason performance, and now a public ejection and release, Sanders’ NFL journey has hit a rough patch. Deion, meanwhile, remains optimistic about his boys’ resilience, saying, “They don’t have to be THE best but they have to give THEIR BEST.” For Shilo, the next chapter might be his most challenging yet to hang on to his NFL dream.