... ...
Thursday, September 17, 2026

Trump Defends Sanders After Snub: ‘What Is Wrong With NFL Owners?’

The president expressed support for the former Colorado quarterback after he wasn’t drafted in the first round.

Leah Millis-Imagn Images

One of the most surprising snubs of the first round of the NFL Draft has found a new critic in President Donald Trump.

Trump posted on his social media platform Truth Social in support of Shedeur Sanders, who went undrafted Thursday night despite drawing interest from several teams. Sanders, the son of NFL Hall of Famer Deion Sanders, played for his father at Colorado, and his Buffaloes teammate Travis Hunter went No. 2 overall to the Jaguars.

“What is wrong with NFL owners, are they STUPID?” Trump posted shortly before the second round began Friday. “Deion Sanders was a great college football player, and was even greater in the NFL. He’s also a very good coach, streetwise and smart! Therefore, Shedeur, his quarterback son, has PHENOMENAL GENES, and is all set for Greatness. He should be ‘picked’ IMMEDIATELY by a team that wants to WIN. Good luck Shedeur, and say hello to your wonderful father!”

Based on the timing of his social media posts, the president either sent the message from the skies or fired it off shortly after he arrived in Italy for the funeral of Pope Francis. He posted about Sanders shortly before sharing two messages that he landed in Italy, along with a video stepping off the plane.

All of these posts came just hours before ESPN began its second- and third-round coverage of the draft. Reports before the draft began suggested it was unclear when Sanders might be picked, and it could be as late as the third round.

While he was still coaching at Jackson State, Deion Sanders wrote a letter to the Trump White House in support of pardoning rapper Lil Wayne. The younger Sanders brother, Shilo, made comments about Trump earlier this year when talking about internet critics. “If you just hate me, or you want to hate me…paint me in a bad picture, they do that to our president, they do that to everybody.”

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Sign up for
The Memo Newsletter

Get the biggest stories and best analysis on the business of sports delivered to your inbox twice every weekday and twice on weekends.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Landry Kiffin/Fifth Year

Lane Kiffin’s Daughter Seizes CFB Spotlight With Clothing Venture

“Having a family involved in college sports helps from a marketing perspective.”
Sep 11, 2026; Melbourne, AUS; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) rushes the ball in the second half against the Los Angeles Rams at Melbourne Cricket Ground. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

NFL Week 1 Ratings Fall 13% Despite New Broadcast Schedule

The league saw a surprisingly sharp drop in viewership.

Florida Senators Oppose College Sports Bill Due to Miami, FSU Ambitions

The Protect College Sports Act is moving through the Senate.
Sam Leavitt LSU

Sam Leavitt’s Injury Tag Sparks Skepticism Ahead of LSU–Ole Miss

Lane Kiffin has previously faced criticism for his handling of injury reports.
podcast thumbnail mobile
Front Office Sports Today

9/17/26 – CFB Ratings Surge, Joe Buck’s $108M Deal, Knicks Ticket Shock

0:00

Featured Today

Fantasy Football Drafts Are Turning Into Full-Blown Vacations

Leagues are foregoing solo drafts and replacing them with in-person getaways.
Oct 4, 2025; Tempe, AZ, USA; General action during the first period of the game between the Arizona State Sun Devils and the Penn State Nittany Lions at Mullett Arena
September 10, 2026

How Military-Style Workouts in College Sports Get Dangerous

For elite athletes, high-intensity training can be “very appealing.”
September 6, 2026

Is Carolyn Tisch Blodgett the Future Face of Giants Ownership?

Amid changes at top of Giants ownership, eyes are on Tisch Blodgett.
September 4, 2026

Wild Transfer Window Shows How Premier League Towers Over Soccer

Spending in England vastly outstripped the rest of Europe.
September 3, 2026

Teams Are Spending Millions to Build Luxury Locker Rooms

It’s a recruiting pitch, a retention tool, and a seven-figure line item.

ESPN Draws 23.2M Viewers for Week 1 of ‘Monday Night Football’

It’s the third-most-watched game of all 362 ESPN MNF broadcasts.
September 16, 2026

WTA Finals Moving to Charlotte in 2027 As U.S. Push Continues

The 2026 WTA Finals will be played at Indian Wells.
September 16, 2026

NFL Blocks Teams From Signing ex-LSU Players

Dae’Quan Wright’s agent says the tight end is exploring his legal options.
Sponsored

Drew Weatherford’s Bet on the Youth Sports Economy

Drew Weatherford discusses investing across the youth, college and professional levels.
September 15, 2026

Networks Get Mixed Results With Week 1 NFL Viewership

CBS sees some viewership attrition, while NBC rebounded Sunday night.
Jun 23, 2026; New York, NY, USA; NBA commissioner Adam Silver during the 2026 NBA draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
September 15, 2026

Adam Silver: It Would Be a ‘Failure’ If Trail Blazers Left Portland

Silver spoke after the NBA Board of Governors meetings in New York.
September 15, 2026

PGA’s 2028 Changes Include Money Exemption—but No LIV Pathway

The top 50 members on the Tour’s career money list are eligible.
Jan 29, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Washington Capitals right wing Ryan Leonard (9) gets set during a face off in the first period against the Detroit Red Wings at Little Caesars Arena
September 15, 2026

NHL’s Eleventh-Hour Scramble to Lock In 8-Year Deals

Teams are pushing to sign players to max-length contracts before terms drop.