The 2025 NFL Draft took a surprising turn when QB prospect Shedeur Sanders fell to the fifth round and was picked by the Cleveland Browns. His unexpected drop caused many to wonder if his father, Deion Sanders, played a part. Some critics even called Prime a “helicopter dad,” saying he was too involved in Shedeur’s career.
However, sports analyst Rich Eisen defended Deion, tearing down these claims and pointing out how unfairly the Hall of Famer was portrayed. Eisen didn’t hold back, strongly supporting Coach Prime and criticizing those who made such accusations.
Rich Eisen Defends Deion Sanders Amid Growing ‘Helicopter Dad’ Criticism
Rich Eisen recently addressed the harsh criticism Deion Sanders faced, calling him both a failure as a father and a coach. In just a week, critics had already decided, but Eisen wasn’t having it.
Eisen criticized the claims that Deion’s involvement in his son’s career was exactly what it should be like.
“He’s got a dad like Lavar Ball, Deion Sanders, now suddenly Lavar Ball, okay, I got it, like what Lavar—Lavar… he’s just going to be a helicopter dad and he’s going to blow up your franchise.” Eisen pointed out how absurd it was to compare Deion to Lavar Ball, noting how coaches like Bill Belichick, who control the locker room, don’t let distractions interfere.
Eisen clarified that Sanders’ role was about being both a father and a coach, not a disruptive force.
“Mike Tomlin, if they had drafted Shedeur, they couldn’t have told him, ‘Yeah, the cameras aren’t coming in.’ And you know who would have backed off right away? Shedeur. And you know who would have told Shedeur to back off right away? His dad.”
He stressed that Coach Prime knows how to guide his son while respecting team dynamics, showing that his involvement is all about support, not control.
The internet went crazy when Shedeur Sanders dropped to the fifth round in the NFL Draft. Fans and analysts started guessing why it happened. Some thought it was because of Shedeur’s preparation before the draft, while others blamed Sanders’ overwhelming spotlight, saying it caused too many distractions and made NFL teams nervous.
But Rich Eisen didn’t buy into that. He called out the teams for using Deion as an excuse.
“…It’s your team, it’s your locker room, you run it, and you know who would respect that? The guy who runs his team the way he sees fit.”
RELATED: Stephen A. Smith Says Shedeur and Deion Sanders ‘Deserved Better’ After NFL Draft Debacle
Even with all the noise, Deion Sanders stayed true to himself. He kept supporting his son proudly, ignoring the media criticism. Meanwhile, Shedeur, now with the Browns, has a golden opportunity to prove his doubters wrong and showcase his talent on the NFL stage.
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