Stephen A. Smith calls out Kevin Stefanski, doesn't believe Shedeur Sanders' future is with Browns

Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders enjoyed the best game of his young NFL career Sunday afternoon. In a 31-29 loss to the Tennessee Titans, Sanders completed 54.8% of his passes for 364 yards and three touchdowns with just one interception.

The rookie led the Browns on a seven-play, 80 yard touchdown drive to pull within two points with just 1:03 remaining in regulation. On the team’s two-point conversion however, Sanders was not present as fellow rookie running back Quinshon Judkins lined up in a Wildcat formation. The play was a bust and led the Cleveland suffering its fifth loss in its last six games.

During Tuesday morning’s edition of ‘Get Up‘, ESPN‘s Stephen A. Smith lambasted Cleveland head coach Kevin Stefanski for leaving Sanders off the field during the two-point conversion. This is just one of many gripes Stephen A. had with the former two-time NFL Coach of the Year regarding Sanders.

“I think that (Sanders) is earning his stripes and that he’s getting better and I applaud him,” Smith said. “But, I don’t want him in Cleveland. I don’t think that the coach there wants him there. There’s no excuse. I understand that on the first two-point conversion, he fumbled the snap. The second one, you’re gonna take him out of the game for some Wildcat with Quinshon Judkins? What the hell is that about? You know what, you have nothing to lose. Your goal is to do everything that you can to find out what this kid is made of in every situation imaginable because you’re not going anywhere this year.”

Stephen A. Smith continues to bash Kevin Stefanski over treatment of Shedeur Sanders

Sanders opened the season as Cleveland’s QB3 behind veteran Joe Flacco and Dillon Gabriel, but has since shot to the starting role following Flacco’s trade to Cincinnati and Gabriel’s disappointing play.

“The season is over. Why would you take him out? For what? Especially when you were looking to potentially throw the football. You want your quarterback in there, especially when he’s passed for 300 yards in the game for crying out loud. I don’t know what the hell Kevin Stefanski is doing. This is not the first time he’s done this with this kid and it makes absolutely no sense whatsoever. I think Shedeur Sanders has the potential to really, really thrive in the National Football League. I don’t believe it should be in Cleveland. Kevin Stefanski is a two-time Coach of the Year, so nobody’s questioning his coaching acumen.

“I’m simply saying, it’s because of his coaching acumen that we rely upon, that it’s so inexplicable to see how he’s treated Shedeur Sanders. First you throw him in the game with no reps whatsoever. You do nothing to prepare him for when he has to come in the game as a starter. Then finally, you hesitate to name him QB1. It’s like pulling teeth to do that, then you’re pulling him out of two-point conversions when you don’t have anybody else to throw the damn football. It makes no sense what’s going on with Kevin Stefanski.“

In four games this season (three starts), Sanders boasts 769 yards and five touchdowns with three interceptions. After being selected with the No. 144 pick in the Fifth Round of the 2025 NFL Draft, Sanders signed a four-year, $4.6 million contract with the franchise. Now sitting at 3-10 on the season, Cleveland (currently) owns both the No. 4 and No. 27 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.