In Atlanta, a fan’s deep emotional investment in football has sparked a major legal battle against the NFL. A lawsuit has been filed for a staggering $100 million under the alias John Doe, who claims to have suffered trauma related to the draft position of rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders.
Sanders, son of famed coach Deion Sanders, was once a standout quarterback at the University of Colorado. He was projected to be a first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. However, to the surprise of many, he was ultimately selected in the fifth round by the Cleveland Browns at pick 144.
In the complaint, Doe alleges that the NFL and its affiliates engaged in activities that harmed Sanders’ reputation and hindered his draft position. He claims that multiple reports and leaking of sensitive information negatively affected the overall drafting process, leading to what he describes as an unfair environment. Doe expresses that this situation led to significant emotional distress for him as a fan, hurting not just Sanders but his own love for the game.
The lawsuit states that despite Sanders’ proven skills and the attention he received over the years, he faced a dramatic fall in the draft, which Doe claims was due to intentional acts by the league. Doe argues that the NFL violated various laws including the Antitrust Act, the Civil Rights Act, and consumer protection laws.
Along with the financial compensation, Doe is requesting that the court address the grievances he has raised regarding the draft process’s fairness and biases. As the situation unfolds, the NFL has yet to publicly comment on this high-stakes litigation.
