Shedeur Sanders was named to the Pro Bowl, and the timing instantly set social media on fire. Fans were confused after seeing Shedeur Sanders get the call before Joe Burrow, a proven NFL quarterback who many expected to be first in line.
The confusion grew even more when Burrow was officially added to the Pro Bowl roster days later, raising questions about how the selection process actually worked.
According to league rules, Pro Bowl spots are filled through a mix of voting results and replacement availability. Shedeur Sanders was selected as a replacement earlier, which opened the door before Burrow’s name was finalized. Still, the optics caught fans off guard.
Shedeur Sanders himself seemed just as surprised. He said he got the call while walking the streets of Paris, casually eating an entire cake. “Eating cake in the middle of the street in Paris. I got a whole cake. Get a call. You got a chance to go to the Pro Bowl. How better can life get?”
How Pro Bowl Players Are Selected and Why Alternates Matter
Pro Bowl selections are not as simple as picking the biggest names, and that’s where much of the confusion around recent inclusions comes from. The NFL determines Pro Bowl rosters through a three-way voting system made up of fans, players, and coaches. Each group accounts for exactly 33.3 percent of the final vote, creating a combined point total for every eligible player.
At quarterback, the process is especially competitive. For each conference, one starter and two reserve quarterbacks are initially selected based strictly on those vote totals. However, that first list is rarely final. Once the postseason begins, availability becomes a major factor.
Quarterbacks who reach the Super Bowl are automatically ruled out. Others decline due to injuries, workload concerns, or offseason recovery plans. Even players who started every game can opt out, which regularly creates multiple open spots on the roster.
When that happens, the NFL turns to the original voting results. Behind the initial selections is a ranked list of quarterbacks who also received votes. These players are labeled alternates and are contacted in order of their vote totals. If the next quarterback declines, the offer moves to the following name on the list, then the next, and so on.
This explains how unexpected names can surface before bigger stars. The fact that Shedeur Sanders landed on the AFC Pro Bowl roster indicates the alternates list reached his position in the voting order. It doesn’t mean he was chosen over others directly. It means the selection process worked its way down the list until an available quarterback accepted the invitation.
Shedeur Sanders’ Fan Vote Surge Made Him a Pro Bowl Lock
Shedeur Sanders didn’t appear out of nowhere on the Pro Bowl roster. Fan voting played a major role in pushing his name up the alternates list.
Final-day Pro Bowl vote rankings shared by the Cleveland Browns showed Shedeur ranked inside the top ten at quarterback, a clear sign of strong fan support. Since fans account for one-third of the total Pro Bowl vote, that momentum matters.
When higher-ranked quarterbacks declined or became unavailable, the NFL turned to the next eligible names based on vote totals. Shedeur Sanders’ heavy fan backing kept him high in the queue, making him an obvious and ready replacement when openings appeared.
Deion Sanders Praises Shedeur for Pro Bowl Nod
Deion Sanders proudly acknowledged Shedeur Sanders for reaching a milestone even he didn’t hit as quickly. Reacting to Shedeur’s Pro Bowl selection, Coach Prime highlighted how rare the moment really is. “My son did something I didn’t do. He made the Pro Bowl in his first year,” said Sanders.
He then added important context that shut down criticism of the selection process. “I made it in my third year. It’s not just a fan thing.” The message was clear. Shedeur’s Pro Bowl spot wasn’t handed out on hype alone. It reflected real recognition across the league.
For Deion, it was a proud father moment. For Shedeur, it was an early-career statement that set the bar high moving forward.
Also Read: Shedeur Sanders Fans Will Enjoy How Baker Mayfield Berated Kevin Stefanski Following Falcons Hire