Rookie safety Shilo Sanders, NFL Hall of Famer Deion Sanders’s son, is taking in stride a potential career change after he was waived by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after a preseason ejection. The 25-year-old informed fans that he’s willing to try music, acting, and modeling and that this is a wider plan for the rest of his life outside of football.
Shilo Sanders inked as an undrafted free agent in May of 2025 through the Buccaneers after a collegiate career that took him through South Carolina, Jackson State, and Colorado, for which he played under his father.
In six collegiate seasons, Sanders accumulated 217 tackles, six interceptions, and five forced fumbles in 52 games and established himself as a multi-dimensional defensive back defined by aggressive play.
A tweet from X.
But his NFL start unraveled quickly. On August 23, 2025, during a preseason matchup against the Buffalo Bills, Sanders was ejected after throwing a punch at tight end Zach Davidson following a downfield play. The altercation led to a penalty that extended the Bills’ drive and sparked frustration on Tampa Bay’s sideline.
Head coach Todd Bowles called the act “inexcusable”, adding that
“discipline and composure are non-negotiable at this level.”
Less than 24 hours later, the Buccaneers waived Sanders, and he went unclaimed on waivers.
In a YouTube video titled
“Waived By the Buccaneers… What Now?”
Sanders spoke candidly about the incident and his uncertain future:
“I’m grateful for the opportunity Tampa gave me,”
Sanders said.
“God’s blessed me with a lot of talents to do other things other than play football. If this path doesn’t work out, I’ll be fine. I’ve got acting, modeling, music things I’ve loved my whole life.”
While he stopped short of announcing any signed deals, Sanders hinted at his aspirations in entertainment and fashion. He has already made a brief acting appearance on the Starz series “BMF”, portraying his father, and has attracted attention for his fashion-forward style on social media.
Current Colorado head coach Deion Sanders publicly expressed pride in his son’s determination:
“I’ve always told my kids to be well-rounded,”
Deion said earlier this week.
“Football is a blessing, but it’s not the only thing. Shilo’s got options.”
Social media reaction, however, has been mixed. Some fans defended Sanders’ passion and competitiveness, while others questioned his maturity after the preseason punch. Former NFL star Antonio Brown even mocked the situation in a now-viral tweet, suggesting Deion was “over-hyping” his son’s short NFL stint.
Sanders’ ambitions outside football aren’t new. In addition to his role on BMF, he has hinted at music projects and is already making inroads into modeling, with a runway debut photo circulating widely online.
For now, his NFL journey isn’t necessarily over. His negotiating rights are owned by the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League, and some analysts have predicted that he might yet end up on an NFL practice squad.
But Sanders appears equally ready to pivot if those opportunities don’t materialize.
“Athletes today have to prepare for life beyond the game,”
Sanders said in his video.
“I’ve been blessed to have parents who made sure I developed different skills.”
Shilo Sanders’ crossroads is part of a broader pattern among today’s athletes balancing sports, mass media, and individual brands. While his own NFL prospects are doubtful, his quest for diversification is symptomatic of greater player utilization of sites for multi-industry existences.
