Shilo Sanders had a strong preseason debut, but the job is far from finished.
The undrafted Buccaneers safety made his presence known Saturday in his preseason debut, when he recorded a tackle and quarterback hit against the Titans in a 29-7 win.
However, the impactful outing wasn’t enough for dad Deion Sanders to accept Shilo’s game-worn jersey.
“He didn’t want it,” the 25-year-old Shilo told reporters while laughing, according to ESPN. “Cause, you know, he’s a Hall of Famer. He expects like 30 times more. He didn’t want my jersey. I’m gonna give it to my mom, though.”
Shilo, who played for his dad at Jackson State and Colorado, added that under certain circumstances, the elder Sanders would take the game-worn jersey.
“Nah, he don’t want it. I gotta get like three picks or something for him to want that,” Shilo said, grinning.
Shilo, 25, signed with the Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent following the 2025 NFL Draft in April.
Weeks before the Buccaneers’ preseason opener, Sanders — who recently divulged he had his bladder removed after doctors discovered a cancerous tumor — visited Shilo at training camp.
“He played tough,” Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles said Saturday. “I thought he went in and did a heck of a job. He had some good tackles inside. He had a pressure on the quarterback as well. He did some good coverage things, so he did a good job when he was in there.”
Shilo is currently listed as the No. 4 free safety on the depth chart, well behind current projected starter Tykee Smith.
Shilo’s outing came one day after his younger brother, Browns rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders, shined in his preseason debut.
Shedeur, who stunningly slid to the fifth round of April’s draft, connected for two touchdowns against the Panthers in Friday’s 30-10 road win.
“Yes Lawd! Yes! @ShedeurSanders,” Sanders posted on X afterward.
