How Shedeur Sanders is following Tom Brady's NFL career starter kit

How Shedeur Sanders is following Tom Brady's NFL career starter kitStory byHow Shedeur Sanders is following Tom Brady's NFL career starter kitBrent Schrotenboer, USA TODAYMon, November 24, 2025 at 3:07 AM UTC·2 min read

Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders knows Tom Brady, learned from Tom Brady and now wants to launch his NFL career like Tom Brady did 25 years ago.

Sanders’ father Deion also held Brady up as a model for his son after Shedeur fell to the fifth round in the NFL draft in April.

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That’s because Brady, the legendary NFL quarterback, was a sixth-round pick out of Michigan in 2000 before going on to win seven Super Bowls.

Brady even sent Shedeur a text message after his disappointing draft experience and told him to “use it as motivation.”

Here’s how their NFL career starts compare after the former Colorado quarterback made his starting debut Sunday in Las Vegas:

Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders passes against the Las Vegas Raiders in the first half at Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nev. on Nov. 23, 2025.Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders arrives before the game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nev. on Nov. 23, 2025.Shedeur Sanders of the Cleveland Browns warms up prior to the game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium on Nov. 23, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nev.Shedeur Sanders of the Cleveland Browns greets teammates prior to the game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium on Nov. 23, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nev.Shedeur Sanders of the Cleveland Browns takes on the field prior to the game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium on Nov. 23, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nev.Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders warms up before the game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nev. on Nov. 23, 2025.Head coach Kevin Stefanski talks to Shedeur Sanders of the Cleveland Browns during the first quarter against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium on Nov. 23, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nev.Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders throws a pass against the Las Vegas Raiders in the first half at Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nev. on Nov. 23, 2025.Shedeur Sanders #12 of the Cleveland Browns reacts after getting sacked by Malcolm Koonce #51 of the Las Vegas Raiders in the first quarter of a game at Allegiant Stadium on Nov. 23, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nev.Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders (12) runs against Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Malcolm Koonce (51) in the first half at Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nev. on Nov. 23, 2025.Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Malcolm Koonce (51) tackles Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders (12) in the first half at Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nev. on Nov. 23, 2025.Shedeur Sanders #12 and Quinshon Judkins #10 of the Cleveland Browns celebrate after a touchdown in the first quarter against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium on Nov. 23, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nev.1 / 12

See Shedeur Sanders make first NFL career start for Cleveland Browns

Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders passes against the Las Vegas Raiders in the first half at Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nev. on Nov. 23, 2025.1 / 12

See Shedeur Sanders make first NFL career start for Cleveland Browns

Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders passes against the Las Vegas Raiders in the first half at Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nev. on Nov. 23, 2025.2 / 12

See Shedeur Sanders make first NFL career start for Cleveland Browns

Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders arrives before the game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nev. on Nov. 23, 2025.3 / 12

See Shedeur Sanders make first NFL career start for Cleveland Browns

Shedeur Sanders of the Cleveland Browns warms up prior to the game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium on Nov. 23, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nev.4 / 12

See Shedeur Sanders make first NFL career start for Cleveland Browns

Shedeur Sanders of the Cleveland Browns greets teammates prior to the game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium on Nov. 23, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nev.5 / 12

See Shedeur Sanders make first NFL career start for Cleveland Browns

Shedeur Sanders of the Cleveland Browns takes on the field prior to the game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium on Nov. 23, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nev.6 / 12

See Shedeur Sanders make first NFL career start for Cleveland Browns

Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders warms up before the game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nev. on Nov. 23, 2025.7 / 12

See Shedeur Sanders make first NFL career start for Cleveland Browns

Head coach Kevin Stefanski talks to Shedeur Sanders of the Cleveland Browns during the first quarter against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium on Nov. 23, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nev.8 / 12

See Shedeur Sanders make first NFL career start for Cleveland Browns

Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders throws a pass against the Las Vegas Raiders in the first half at Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nev. on Nov. 23, 2025.9 / 12

See Shedeur Sanders make first NFL career start for Cleveland Browns

Shedeur Sanders #12 of the Cleveland Browns reacts after getting sacked by Malcolm Koonce #51 of the Las Vegas Raiders in the first quarter of a game at Allegiant Stadium on Nov. 23, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nev.10 / 12

See Shedeur Sanders make first NFL career start for Cleveland Browns

Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders (12) runs against Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Malcolm Koonce (51) in the first half at Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nev. on Nov. 23, 2025.11 / 12

See Shedeur Sanders make first NFL career start for Cleveland Browns

Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Malcolm Koonce (51) tackles Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders (12) in the first half at Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nev. on Nov. 23, 2025.12 / 12

See Shedeur Sanders make first NFL career start for Cleveland Browns

Shedeur Sanders #12 and Quinshon Judkins #10 of the Cleveland Browns celebrate after a touchdown in the first quarter against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium on Nov. 23, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nev.

How they got their first NFL starts

Brady got his first NFL start for New England on Sept. 30, 2001 after the previous starter, Drew Bledsoe, was knocked out of action in the previous game on a vicious hit by a defender.

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Shedeur Sanders got his first NFL start Sunday, Nov. 23, after the previous starter, Dillon Gabriel, was knocked of the previous game with a concussion.

How they did in their first NFL starts

Brady led the Patriots to a 44-13 win over the Indianapolis Colts.

Shedeur Sanders led the Browns to a 24-10 win over the Las Vegas Raiders, a team that Brady partly owns.

How they did statistically in their first NFL starts

Brady completed 13 of 23 passes for 168 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions. His passer rating was 79.6.

Shedeur Sanders completed 11 of 20 passes for 209 yards and one touchdown with one interception. His passer rating was 87.3.

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How good were their teams?

The Patriots were 0-2 when Brady took over as start. The Patriots finished that year with an 11-5 record.

The Browns were 2-8 when Sanders took over Sunday in Las Vegas, which Brady did not attend because he was broadcasting a Dallas Cowboys game for FOX Sports. The Browns next play against San Francisco on Nov. 30.

OK, what about cars?

They both like Rolls-Royce Cullinans. Brady has been seen in one. Shedeur wanted one, too, leading his father to ask Tom Brady in 2023 if a college kid needed such a car.

“I think he needs to get his (butt) in the film room and spend as much time in there as possible,” Brady said on his podcast then.

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“Thank you, Tom,” Deion Sanders said.

“Less time in the car and more time in the film room,” Brady said.

“I seen you had one too, Tom,” Shedeur Sanders replied.

Super Bowl trophies are another matter. One game down for Shedeur. Seven Super Bowls to go.

Follow reporter Brent Schrotenboer @Schrotenboer. Email: [email protected]

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Shedeur Sanders following Tom Brady starter kit for success

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