Cleveland’s quarterback situation in 2025 was unsettled, with three different starters taking snaps: Joe Flacco started four games, Dillon Gabriel started six, and Shedeur Sanders started seven.
Among the trio, Sanders earned AFC Pro Bowl status as an alternate, despite finishing with modest numbers: 1,400 passing yards, 7 touchdowns, 10 interceptions on a 56.6% completion rate—the worst in the league among qualifying passers.
The Pro Bowl nod largely came because the conference’s top quarterbacks were unavailable or dealing with injuries. Josh Allen and Justin Herbert were sidelined by injuries, and replacements such as Bo Nix (ankle fracture), Patrick Mahomes (ACL tear), and Daniel Jones (Achilles) also faced setbacks.
Sanders becomes the first Browns quarterback to reach the Pro Bowl since Derek Anderson in 2008. While the Pro Bowl honor is noteworthy, the larger challenge for Sanders is securing the Browns’ starting quarterback job for 2026 amid ongoing competition.
The Stefanski hire by the Falcons and Cleveland’s ongoing QB competition will shape both teams’ plans for the 2026 season, with Sanders’ long-term role in Cleveland remaining a central storyline.
