Tom Brady’s text to Shedeur Sanders amid NFL Draft chaos is everything you’d expect from a champion

The 2025 NFL Draft brought with it a series of surprising twists, but none more talked about than Shedeur Sanders' unexpected fall to the fifth round. Once projected as a potential first-round pick, Sanders watched 143 names get called before his, eventually landing with the Cleveland Browns at pick No. 144. But in the midst of that emotional whirlwind, a message of clarity and resilience came from someone who knows the sting of a draft-day snub all too well—Tom Brady.Tom Brady, who infamously went 199th overall in the 2000 NFL Draft before rewriting the record books with seven Super Bowl rings and three MVPs, reached out to Shedeur during his slide.“I actually texted Shedeur because I know him very well,” Brady said on the IMPAULSIVE podcast. “And I said, 'Dude, whatever happens, wherever you go, that's your first day. Day 2 matters more than the draft.' I was 199. So who can speak on it better than me? Use it as motivation, you're going to get your chances and go take advantage of it.”Brady’s words were not just consolation—they were a call to arms. The all-time great emphasized that while the draft might be a starting line, it’s what happens after that defines a player’s legacy. “Like wherever you end up going, it's about your performance... Because you're going to get there,” Brady added. “There's a lot of growth that needs to happen.”In a poetic nod to the GOAT, Sanders has chosen to wear No. 12 for the Browns—swapping his longtime No. 2 from high school and college. It's more than a jersey number; it's a statement of intent. A tribute to the man who believed in him when the rest of the league hesitated.Despite a stellar final season at Colorado, where Sanders posted 4,134 passing yards and 37 touchdowns, NFL teams seemed wary—citing concerns ranging from system fit to his ability to transition at the pro level. But raw talent was never in question. And now, with a chip on his shoulder and the backing of someone who’s been through it all, Sanders has the perfect storm of motivation and mentorship to silence the critics.Brady's influence on Sanders extends beyond just friendly advice. The two have developed a bond over the years, with Brady acting as an informal mentor. But interestingly, his role as a minority owner of the Las Vegas Raiders added another twist to this draft drama. The Raiders passed on Sanders several times, opting instead to select Cam Miller in the sixth round. While Brady publicly stated he “wasn’t a part of any evaluation process,” reports suggested he was in frequent communication with team management. The fact that Vegas overlooked Sanders, despite their need at quarterback and Brady’s close relationship with him, has raised eyebrows.Nevertheless, Cleveland may have pulled off one of the biggest steals of the draft. Sanders now enters a locker room hungry for success, with a fanbase ready to rally behind him and a Hall of Famer’s encouragement echoing in his ears.What Brady emphasized was clear: greatness isn’t defined by where your name appears on draft night, but by what you do once your name is called. And for Shedeur Sanders, that chapter starts now.Also Read: Shedeur Sanders ditches old jersey number for one that connects him to Tom Brady legacy for his Cleveland Browns journey