Former U.S. Congressman Claims America’s “Fear Of Strong Black Men” Led To Shedeur Sanders’ First-Round NFL Draft Slide

The first round of the 2025 NFL Draft didn’t go the way Shedeur Sanders had hoped.

Once pegged as a potential top-five pick, Sanders watched from his custom-built draft room as team after team passed him by. Despite the media frenzy surrounding him leading up to draft night, the Colorado quarterback ended up without a first-round home.

While football fans debated the reasons behind Sanders’ fall, former New York Congressman Jamaal Bowman wasted no time offering his take.

In a fiery 10-minute rant posted to social media, Bowman claimed Sanders dropped because “America continues to fear strong black men,” arguing that the NFL shied away from Sanders because of his flashy image and outspoken personality.

The Fallout After Sanders’ Slide

Sanders’ draft stock took a hit following the NFL Combine, where rumors swirled about how poorly he handled interviews with teams. According to an anonymous assistant coach quoted by Whiskey Riff, Sanders came off as “entitled” and “unprofessional,” with one coach going as far as calling it the worst interview he had ever seen. Criticism centered not just on his attitude but also on his playstyle, with concerns about his tendency to hold the ball too long and blame teammates for mistakes.