Colorado Fan Sues NFL for $100 Million Over Shedeur Sanders’ Draft Slide

In what might go down as one of the most bizarre sports-related lawsuits in recent memory, a self-identified diehard Colorado Buffaloes fan—listed only as John Doe in court documents—has filed a $100 million lawsuit against the National Football League, accusing the league of collusion and discrimination in relation to Shedeur Sanders’ unexpected fall to the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft.

Yes, you read that correctly.

The Georgia-based fan claims he devoted an “unquantifiable amount of time” watching Sanders play for Colorado, studying every snap, press conference, and highlight reel he could find. He even admitted to falling into a self-described “YouTube rabbit hole” of Shedeur content. His connection to Coach Prime’s son was so strong, he says, that when the quarterback wasn’t selected until pick No. 144 by the Cleveland Browns, he suffered “emotional distress, mental anguish, and a severe loss of football faith.”

According to the lawsuit, the NFL allegedly colluded to sink Sanders’ draft stock—an accusation filed under the Sherman Antitrust Act. But that’s just the beginning. The complaint also alleges racial discrimination against Sanders as a Black quarterback, invoking the Civil Rights Act. And for the cherry on top, the fan claims the league misrepresented the draft process and violated consumer protection laws.

You might wonder: Which lawyer signed off on this?

None. The plaintiff is representing himself. He also admitted he can’t afford the court filing fees necessary to move the complaint forward, which may be the only thing preventing this saga from heading straight to a judge’s recycling bin.

Still, the image of a Buffaloes fan—perhaps in full CU gear, eyes red from hours of live-streamed draft coverage—deciding to sue the most powerful sports league in America over a quarterback’s draft position is, objectively, laugh-out-loud funny.

And while Sanders might’ve slipped to Day 3, it wasn’t the end of the world. He’s now in Cleveland, where he joins a quarterback room that includes Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, and Dillon Gabriel—the quarterback the Browns selected 50 picks before Sanders. That, too, has likely added fuel to the plaintiff’s fire.

In a country where the courts are often jammed with serious matters, the idea of suing the NFL over “draft distress” offers a surreal reminder that fandom, like football, can be unpredictable—and occasionally, just plain absurd.

Whether this case ever sees a courtroom is doubtful. But in terms of headline-grabbing efforts? Mission accomplished.