Shedeur Sanders and the Candidate Red Flags

Recap: Not a tech/startup story. This one’s from the NFL. But it’s my newsletter, and I talk about what I want. Shedeur Sanders, once hyped as a top NFL draft pick (translation: a high-value prospect to be signed as a professional player in the first round), dropped all the way to the 5th round. That’s near the bottom. Analysts blamed skipped interviews, attitude issues, and a total lack of humility.

I’m a founder, but I’m still a Steelers fan. I still watch ESPN. So when this happened, I was locked in. 

I watched Shedeur the same way I’d watch a candidate interview. The posture. The answers. The tone. Red flag after red flag. He blamed his offensive line. Skipped evaluations. Didn’t even say thanks during the prank draft call. That’s a hard “no” in any pipeline.

I don’t care how talented you are. If you show up like that in front of decision-makers, you don’t get the job. 

And yes, he’s Deion’s son, so he gets it honestly. Yes, he’s young. But talent opens the door. Character keeps you in the room. The NFL didn’t pass because he can’t play. They passed because they didn’t trust him to lead grown men. 

That’s not just a sports story. That’s a human story. That’s hiring, baby!

Advice:

Founders, listen. One bad cultural fit will kill a team faster than 5 underperformers. You’re not building a fantasy roster. You’re building a locker room. Stop hiring “rockstars” and start hiring people you trust.

And recruiters, ask the hard questions. Ask about failure. About accountability. About conflict. I’d rather take someone with mid-level skills and self-awareness than a 10x performer who can’t be coached. If someone reminds you of Shedeur, pass. Or send them to therapy first. That’s what we do.

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