Travis Kelce backs Shedeur Sanders as starter, and fans are on board

Travis Kelce doesn’t suit up for the Cleveland Browns, but that hasn’t stopped him from speaking like a lifelong member of the Dawg Pound. On a recent episode of the New Heights podcast, the three-time Super Bowl champion and one of the NFL’s most recognizable faces made a bold call that’s stirring debate in Ohio: he wants rookie Shedeur Sanders to take the reins as the Browns’ starting quarterback.

The statement, reported by FirstSportz, wasn’t just a passing comment. Travis Kelce spoke from the heart, recalling how he once dreamed of playing for Cleveland as a kid. But beyond sentimentality, what drives Kelce is the media power and emotional pull of Shedeur Sanders, son of NFL legend Deion Sanders. Shedeur has quickly become a rising figure in football, grabbing attention since his college days at Colorado.

Shedeur in the race for QB1

Travis Kelce’s take makes sense. Shedeur Sanders made his preseason debut with the Browns in a matchup against the Panthers that shattered viewership records. Over 2.2 million fans tuned in on NFL Network, making it the most-watched preseason game in a decade. Still, Sanders’ performance was uneven, and the Browns ultimately named veteran Joe Flacco as their starter, leaving Sanders and Dillon Gabriel on the bench.

🔥 Shedeur. Cleveland Fans Believe

“Welcome to the city man. Appreciate the event. Turn us up bro”

📽️ @ShedeurSanders https://t.co/O2dyu3Pdoy pic.twitter.com/XLxUP50h7N

— JaKi 🇺🇸 (@JaKiTruth) July 16, 2025

Things got more complicated with Deshaun Watson ruled out for the season due to injury. That leaves the Browns with just three quarterbacks on the roster and a fanbase split between Flacco’s experience and Sanders’ potential. ESPN Cleveland’s Tony Rizzo was even more blunt than Travis Kelce, saying if the team isn’t going to give Shedeur Sanders a real shot, they should let him go. “Is he just here to sell jerseys?” Rizzo asked on his radio show.

A rising figure with cultural weight

It’s a fair question. Shedeur Sanders isn’t just a headline because of his last name—his playing style and connection with fans make him stand out. In his final college season, he completed 74% of his passes, and his presence across social media and sports media has made him a cultural figure beyond the field. For a team searching for identity and spark, Travis Kelce sees Sanders as more than a football decision—he sees a cultural shift waiting to happen in Cleveland.

Travis Kelce, in his usual candid style, summed it up clearly: “The world wants to see Shedeur play and succeed.” And maybe it’s time the Browns listened to that call.