Shilo Sanders Cut by Buccaneers After Preseason Punch Incident
Hey, here’s a story that’s been making waves in the NFL this week. Shilo Sanders, the 25-year-old safety and son of NFL legend Deion Sanders, has been released by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. This move came as teams across the league were required to trim their preseason rosters down to 53 players, and Shilo didn’t make the final cut.
The news isn’t completely shocking, though, because it follows an incident in Tampa’s last preseason game against the Buffalo Bills on August 23rd. During that game, Shilo was ejected in the second quarter after throwing a punch at Bills tight end Zach Davidson. Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles didn’t mince words about it, saying, “You can’t throw punches in this league. It’s inexcusable. They’re going to get you every time. Gotta grow from that.” Clearly, that one moment overshadowed what had been a promising start for the rookie safety.
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Shilo went undrafted in the NFL Draft back in April, but he quickly signed with Tampa Bay as a free agent. Before that punch, he had been listed as a third-string safety. Despite being cut from the active roster, his NFL journey isn’t necessarily over. There’s a chance he could be signed to the Buccaneers’ practice squad, or he might find a better fit with another team willing to give him an opportunity.
For some context, Shilo isn’t the only athlete in his family making headlines. His younger brother Shedeur Sanders, a quarterback, was drafted in the fifth round by the Cleveland Browns. Both brothers played under their father, Deion, at Jackson State and Colorado, where they helped lead the Buffaloes to a 9-4 record last season. Shilo had a reputation in college as a hard-hitting, ball-hawking safety. In 2023, he led his college team in tackles, and even in 2024, despite missing three games with a broken forearm, he was still the third-leading tackler. His college career began at South Carolina, then moved to Jackson State, and finally to Colorado for his last two years.
Off the field, Shilo has faced challenges too. He filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in 2023 to address over $11 million in debt stemming from a 2015 incident at his school in Dallas. He was sued after an altercation with a security guard, which led to a default judgment. Shilo has maintained that his actions were self-defense, and his attorneys have been working to reduce his financial burden.
So while this cut is a setback, Shilo Sanders’ story is far from over. With talent, resilience, and some discipline, the NFL doors could still open for him. It’s a reminder of how quickly a moment in sports can change a player’s path—but also how second chances are always possible.
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