Shilo Sanders’ NFL and his financial future could both be decided in the coming weeks. The rookie Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ safety is battling for a spot on the 53-man roster, with head coach Todd Bowles calling this week “very important” in determining who makes the cut.
However, while the on-field stakes are high, the 25-year-old is also facing a massive financial challenge.
Court records show Sanders owes more than $11 million to John Darjean, a former security guard at his Dallas high school.
“Darjean actually has a rooting interest in Sanders’ success,” University of Texas law professor Angela Littwin told USA Today Sports.
Shilo Sanders’ bankruptcy case stuck in dispute over his privacy: ‘Ball of chaos’ https://t.co/Uo0AEX1akv
— USA TODAY (@USATODAY) February 22, 2025
Sanders initially filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in 2023, seeking to have the debt erased. This time, if Sanders wins, the bankruptcy discharge could wipe out the debt, giving him a fresh start. However, if Darjean prevails, Sanders could be forced to pay in full, with future NFL wages potentially garnished.
Sanders signed a three-year, nearly $3 million contract with Tampa Bay after going undrafted this spring, but his place on the roster is far from guaranteed. NFL teams must finalize their 53-man rosters by Aug. 26, and a bankruptcy judge is expected to make a ruling on the $11 million debt later this year.
How a 2015 School Altercation With John Darjean Still Haunts Shilo Sanders?
The $11 million bankruptcy case hanging over Shilo Sanders traces back nearly a decade to a high school altercation.
In September 2015, Sanders, a teenager at a Dallas-area school, was involved in a confrontation with security guard John Darjean. According to court filings, Darjean claimed Sanders struck him with his elbow and fist while the guard was attempting to take away his phone. Darjean alleged the incident caused permanent injuries, leading to spinal surgery, ongoing pain, and long-term medical complications.
Darjean filed a civil lawsuit in 2016, while Shilo countered with self-defense claims. The case dragged on for years, complicated further by the pandemic. By 2020, Sanders had dismissed his legal team, which left him without representation or updates when the case finally went to trial two years later.
In 2022, the trial proceeded without Sanders present. The absence resulted in a default judgment against him, with the court ordering Sanders to pay Darjean $11.89 million in damages.
When Darjean began efforts to collect on the judgment in 2023, Sanders filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, seeking to have the debt discharged. That bankruptcy fight continues today, coinciding with Sanders’ effort to secure his NFL career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
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