The Cleveland Browns lacked fight and execution in a 31-3 drubbing against the Chicago Bears during freezing temperatures at Soldier Field in Week 15, and much of that falls on the shoulders of quarterback Shedeur Sanders and head coach Kevin Stefanski.
Sanders followed up 364 passing yards, three passing TDs and a rushing score against the Tennessee Titans in Week 14 with an 18-0f-35 day for 177 yards and three interceptions against Chicago on Sunday, December 14. The Bears defense also sacked Sanders five times.
Reporters asked Stefanski following the game whether Sanders will remain the starting quarterback over the final three weeks of the campaign, despite how poorly he played against Chicago.
“Yes,” Stefanski responded.
He did not elaborate further on that topic, nor did Stefanski speak to precisely what led to Sanders producing such a poor performance.
“I know there’s things that we can do better, I know there’s things that he can do better,” Stefanski continued. “We’ll look at it.”
Kevin Stefanski Flip-Flopped on Dillon Gabriel Declaration Earlier This Year
GettyQuarterback Dillon Gabriel of the Cleveland Browns.
Stefanski previously announced publicly that Sanders would finish the year as the starter. However, the head coach also said following the team’s Week 11 loss to the Baltimore Ravens that fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel would return to the QB1 role once he came back healthy from the concussion he suffered near halftime of that contest.
Sanders played well enough over the following two games, coupled with overwhelming fan support, that Stefanski was unable to live up to his word and pull Sanders out for Gabriel. Then, after Sanders blew up against the Titans, the Browns sealed the deal.
That said, Sanders could not have played much worse against the Bears on Sunday. So while he may not have harmed his status as Cleveland’s starter for the final three weeks of the campaign, he certainly did some damage to his chances to win the QB1 job outright heading into 2026.
Shedeur Sanders Likely to Face Competition From Top College QB Next Season
GettyIndiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza.
Sanders’ sample size is minimal enough that four quarters of play can swing perception and future projections drastically in either direction. That is what happened in Week 14 against Tennessee, which is evident in the assessment made by Albert Breer of SI last week.
“My hunch is that he’d have to do a lot to win the job outright next year, but I could see a scenario in which he’s part of a real competition, unlike this year,” Breer wrote on December 10. “And that’s a great credit to him. His improvement has been steady. In the process, this whole thing has gone from being a morning-TV sideshow to a pretty cool story.”
The same type of swing happened the other way on Sunday, less than 24 hours after Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza of Indiana captured the Heisman Trophy.
Mendoza is the potential No. 1 pick next April, and the Browns own two first-round selections — their own and one they acquired from the Jacksonville Jaguars during the 2025 draft.
If Cleveland (3-11) finishes with a poor enough record, there is a chance the Browns could trade up for Mendoza, or another top QB in the class, which would spell bad news for the futures of both Sanders and Gabriel in Cleveland.
Stefanski Issues 1-Word Response on Shedeur Sanders’ Future With Browns After Blowout Loss