Deion Sanders' son ready for his future.
Shilo Sanders ready to follow in father's footsteps outside of football after NFL cut originally appeared on The Sporting News
The Sanders family name has always carried weight in football circles.
For Shilo Sanders, the recognition has been both a spotlight and a challenge. The former Colorado Buffaloes safety and son of Pro Football Hall of Famer Deion Sanders now finds himself at a professional and personal crossroads.
After going undrafted in the 2025 NFL Draft, Shilo signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as a free agent, but his time with the franchise ended abruptly when he was cut before the regular season. No other NFL team has signed him since, leaving an uncertain stretch for the 25-year-old.
In a recent YouTube video, Shilo spoke candidly about his options. “I’ve been playing sports my whole life since I was four or five years old. So this is the first time I’ve actually had free time,” he said. “Everyone knows when you’re undrafted, it’s not certain that you’re gonna be on the team.”
The thought of trying to stay in the NFL and keep up the Sanders legacy on the defensive side of the ball is all but gone. Shilo has openly acknowledged that other paths in acting, music, or a larger role in the family’s expanding media presence are all on the table.
The entertainment pivot
Shilo’s personality has given him options that extend beyond football. He has already considered Los Angeles, Atlanta, and Miami as potential bases, if he pursues entertainment. All three places have significant reach in the media world.
Los Angeles is the capital for film and TV production and Shilo's reps, SMAC Entertainment, already handle contracts for big name talent in the industry. The second behind LA right now is Atlanta. Many well-known networks have migrated to the south for tax incentives and a different standard from Hollywood. Tyler Perry Studios has established a 330-acre plot just outside the city. However, Miami is a wild card. South Florida is one of the best vacation spots for the Sanders family, especially Shilo’s brother, Shedeur, who made many trips before joining the Cleveland Browns
The brothers also stepped into the fashion world, walking the runway for Louis Vuitton’s 2024 fall-winter men’s show in Paris. While wearing pieces from Pharrell Williams’ debut collection as the brand's creative director, Shilo and Shedeur were surrounded by international stars, showing their marketability beyond sports. That kind of exposure, along with Shilo’s strong digital presence, positions him to expand into potential brand partnerships.
Boulder still on the map?
While entertainment options will always be there, coming back to Colorado remains a strong possibility. Shilo has not ruled out returning to Boulder, where his father continues to lead the Buffaloes. He enjoys going into Colorado's high country to snowboard and would be back around family.
Shilo's presence could help boost recruiting for the program with a top-notch marketing edge. His two seasons in Boulder helped flip Colorado from being a one-win team in 2022 to 9–4 last year. Sanders' on-field contributions were significant with 67 total tackles, two fumble recoveries, a sack, and a defensive touchdown against Texas Tech in his final year.
Even off the field, his digital reach could amplify the Buffaloes’ brand presence. With college football recruiting increasingly shaped by NIL deals and media exposure, Shilo could turn himself into an asset on the front lines
Challenges and realities
However, there are hurdles. The $11.8 million bankruptcy tied to a long-standing legal matter from Sanders' teenage years is getting ready to go to trail in Denver. That financial cloud weighs on his future heavily.
But Sanders has proven to be resilient. Whatever his next move will be, the attention will follow. For now, Shilo remains in Tampa until the end of the year. After that, his future will begin to take shape.
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Category: General Sports
