Shedeur Sanders is one of the most popular rookies in the NFL right now, as fans are hoping that the son of NFL great Deion Sanders makes it to the regular season team. However, one ESPN analyst, Monica McNutt, confused him for another popular player with the last name, Sanders.
When comedian Druski joined her and Stephen A. Smith for Saturday’s episode of “First Take,” he was wearing a Detroit Lions Barry Sanders jersey. However, McNutt assumed that he was wearing a Shedeur Sanders jersey, leading to an awkward moment between the three. This soon led Barstool Sports’ Dave Portnoy to react to the exchange:
“This is next level stupid here,” he said.
This is next level stupid here pic.twitter.com/YeagzvLFKd
— Dave Portnoy (@stoolpresidente) August 16, 2025
As the incident unfolded, Stephen A. Smith watched it happen with a bemused look in his face as McNutt tried to change the topic to Shedeur Sanders.
“I’m sorry, I apologize, Barry Sanders,” she told Druski. “But the tie, come on, the tie is to Sanders. Bear with me. … Let’s get into Shedeur because it’s appropriate you’re also a fan there, right?”
As for the man she confused Shedeur Sanders for, Barry Sanders played for the Detroit Lions as a running back for 10 years and is considered a legend for the team. His jersey number was 20, and it was what the comedian wore to his “First Take” appearance.
McNutt received a lot of criticism from fans, not just Dave Portnoy, with the clip going viral on social media soon after.
How Good Was Barry Sanders, Who ESPN Host Confused for Shedeur Sanders?
As for the person McNutt had confused for the son of NFL great Deion Sanders, Barry Sanders used to play running back for the Oklahoma State Sooners before he was drafted by the Detroit Lions as the No. 3 overall pick during the 1989 NFL draft. He would soon get a legendary career that many still talk about today.
After playing all 10 of his pro years with the Lions, the running back shocked many when he suddenly announced his retirement. In all, he had 15,269 rushing yards and 99 rushing touchdowns, all for the Lions.
He also won plenty of awards, including sharing the 1997 NFL MVP award with then- Green Bay Packers QB Brett Favre. He also earned Pro Bowl honors in every single year that he was in the NFL and was given All-Pro honors six times during his career.
Related:
College Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in college football, men’s college basketball, women’s college basketball, and college baseball!
