Fan Sues NFL for $100 Million Over Shedeur Sanders Draft Snub, Alleging Racism and Emotional Trauma After Giants and 30 Teams Pass on QB
In a bizarre but headline-grabbing move, an NFL fan has filed a $100 million lawsuit against the National Football League, citing emotional trauma and racial discrimination after star quarterback prospect Shedeur Sanders went undrafted in the 2025 NFL Draft. The fan, identified as Derrick Thompson of Atlanta, Georgia, claims that watching Sanders fall through all seven rounds without a selection caused him “severe psychological distress” and that the draft snub reflects systemic racism within the league.
Shedeur Sanders, son of NFL Hall of Famer Deion Sanders, had an impressive college career under his father at the University of Colorado. With strong statistics, leadership qualities, and a high media profile, Sanders was projected by many analysts to be selected in the early rounds. However, in a surprising turn of events, all 32 teams passed on him, including quarterback-needy franchises like the New York Giants. The omission raised eyebrows across the sports world and sparked heated debates on sports talk shows and social media.
Thompson’s federal complaint centers on the claim that the NFL, by collectively overlooking Sanders, perpetuated racial bias that continues to plague the treatment of Black quarterbacks. According to Thompson, this wasn’t just a matter of poor draft strategy—it was a reflection of “a deeper cultural resistance to fully embracing and empowering Black leadership at the quarterback position.”
“The emotional pain I felt watching that draft cannot be described,” Thompson said during a press conference. “This wasn’t just a disappointment; it was a slap in the face to every young Black athlete who dreams of making it big. I’ve followed Shedeur’s career for years. He did everything right. Yet he was still cast aside.”
While Thompson has no personal or professional ties to the Sanders family, he argues that the emotional toll of witnessing what he describes as “modern-day discrimination in real time” entitles him to legal remedy. His lawsuit includes claims of racial injustice, emotional distress, and negligence.
The NFL has not issued a detailed response but released a short statement affirming its commitment to diversity and fairness in its evaluation and draft processes. “We take all allegations of discrimination seriously and are reviewing the matter thoroughly,” the league’s statement read.
Legal experts have largely dismissed the lawsuit as unlikely to succeed, noting the difficulty of proving personal harm in such a case. “This is highly unorthodox,” said Dana Reynolds, a professor of sports law at NYU. “There’s no direct relationship between the fan and the player, and emotional damages are hard to quantify in this context. That said, it reflects a growing frustration with how racial dynamics still influence decision-making in pro sports.”
Despite the lawsuit’s slim legal prospects, it has reignited public discourse around fairness, transparency, and race in the NFL. Many fans and commentators have pointed out that Black quarterbacks historically have faced skepticism regarding their leadership and intelligence—biases that continue to surface subtly in scouting reports and draft-day decisions.
Whether Thompson’s lawsuit moves forward or is dismissed outright, it has already sparked a national conversation. And as Shedeur Sanders begins his post-draft journey—possibly through free agency or other leagues—the spotlight on the NFL’s draft practices will only intensify.
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