Former NFL Stars Are Blasting The League Over Their Controversial Shedeur Sanders Decision
This article was originally published on Total Pro Sports.
Multiple NFL stars are ripping on the league over a bizarre decision involving Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders.
Last week, Shedeur Sanders was named to the Pro Bowl as a replacement for Drake Maye. The latter was obviously unavailable for the All-Star game after leading the New England Patriots to Super Bowl 60.
The NFL was heavily criticized for allowing Sanders to play in the Pro Bowl, given his lackluster stats. Deion Sanders’ son threw seven touchdowns against 10 interceptions with a woeful 68.1 passer rating, per Pro Football Reference.
Former NFL superstars Tyrann Mathieu and Ndamukong Suh were named to three and five Pro Bowls, respectively. Both players ridiculed the league for allowing Sanders to suit up for the Pro Bowl.
Tyrann Mathieu reacts to Shedeur Sanders’ Pro Bowl selection 😳
“We cannot reward mediocrity… If you have more interceptions than touchdowns, there’s no way you should be rewarded.” pic.twitter.com/IIj3nbGopr
— In The Bayou With Tyrann Mathieu (@InTheBayouPod) February 2, 2026
“We cannot reward mediocrity…If you have more interceptions than touchdowns, there’s no way you should be rewarded,” Mathieu said on the latest edition of his “In The Bayou” podcast.
Suh didn’t mention Sanders’ name, but it’s pretty obvious who he’s talking about in this lengthy X/Twitter post:
Making the Pro Bowl used to be way different!
You really had to be ELITE.. If you made it, it meant the guys lining up across from you knew you were a problem.
These days, if I were playing, I’d honestly rather make First or Second Team All-Pro.
Basketball went through the… pic.twitter.com/g9aZ7stqKp
— Ndamukong Suh (@NdamukongSuh) February 3, 2026
41-year-old Joe Flacco, Shedeur Sanders’ former Cleveland teammate, was also a surprise Pro Bowl selection. He earned his first nod this year despite going 2-8 as a starter (with Cleveland and the Cincinnati Bengals) with 15 touchdowns and 10 picks.
Tyrann Mathieu & Ndamukong Suh Know What Pro Bowl Resumes Look Like
Mathieu was one of the league’s best safeties of his era, earning 2010s All-Decade Team honors. The three-time First-team All-Pro helped the Kansas City Chiefs to a Super Bowl 4 championship.
Suh, also a three-time First-team All-Pro and 2010s All-Decade Team member, is one of the most dominant defensive tackles in history. He won his Super Bowl 55 ring with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2020.
The NFL has changed up its Pro Bowl format numerous times, hoping to make it more entertaining for the fans. But it’s hard for the Pro Bowl to stay relevant when non-superstar players are included each year.
