Besides Shedeur Sanders‘ draft-day slide, it was also a wild ride for his brother, Shilo Sanders. Despite being known as one of the fastest safeties in the game, Shilo went undrafted in 2025. Still, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers saw something in him, especially after that blazing 4.48-second 40-yard dash at Colorado’s Pro Day. So yeah, the league finally showed him some love.
Tampa scooped Shilo Sanders up as one of 15 undrafted free agents, and one of just two safeties. And now, the team officially signed him to a 3-year, $2.9M deal. In addition, he got his jersey number. We all know that Shilo wore No. 21 at Colorado, but for the rookie minicamp, he’ll rock No. 28 this time.
Hence, to show some love for the young safety, the Buccaneers gave Shilo Sanders a shoutout on their official Instagram on Friday. They posted a graphic of him, followed by a video slide that introduced him as “The newest member of our Krewe,” per the caption. The welcome wasn’t just from the team or the fans; his brother, Deion Sanders Jr., who himself couldn’t make it to the league, jumped in too, happily crying for him.
In the comments, Deion Jr. wrote, “God is GREAT,” giving thanks for the opportunity both brothers now have in the league. In addition, the SMU Mustangs WR hyped up his brother, writing, “Yes sir.” No doubt, it’s a powerful moment, especially considering how Shedeur stayed grounded when his own draft didn’t go as expected. Back then, he simply said, “God don’t make mistakes. We’ve got faith in God no matter what.” Now, even though the road wasn’t perfect, both brothers are in the NFL, and their faith never wavered.
Now, just like Shedeur, Shilo Sanders kicked off his rookie minicamp, and he rocked the No. 28 jersey. But in Tampa, that number isn’t just a jersey, it carries weight. Warrick Dunn made it legendary from ’97 to ’08, and after him, it was worn by names like Vernon Hargreaves III and Leonard Fournette. Now, it’s Sanders’ turn.
As an undrafted safety, he’s got a tough climb ahead. But if he brings the heat on special teams and proves he can create turnovers, he might just make some noise and earn his spot. And coach Todd Bowles trusts his new man, Shilo.
Tampa HC is confident about Shilo Sanders
Shilo Sanders isn’t just showing up on the team, he’s showing out. The son of the legendary Deion Sanders came to Tampa as an undrafted free agent, but you wouldn’t know it by the way he carries himself. From the jump, he’s been loud, confident, and locked in. And head coach Todd Bowles, who played safety himself, loves that.
During an interview, after Day 1 rookie minicamp, Bowles said, “He’s (Shilo) very intelligent, he’s very loud. You can hear him today, making calls and everything, so he has a good grasp of things Day 1.” Hmm….so the man is already grasping the playbook like a vet. That’s huge.
But Bowles also kept it real, being smart’s great, but pads change everything. You’ve gotta make plays when it counts. Still, with the way Shilo Sanders’ already standing out, it’s clear he’s not just chasing a dream. He’s out here fighting for it, as training camp’s coming, and he’s not backing down.
The post Deion Sanders Jr.’s 5-Word Message for $2.9M Rich Shilo After Bucs HC Called UDFA ‘Loud’ appeared first on EssentiallySports.
