Shedeur Sanders is the ‘most powerful black man’ since Obama took office, says NBA champion

NBA champion Kendrick Perkins took a fiery shot at Cleveland Browns rookie Shedeur Sanders as the quarterback prepares to make the second start of his NFL career.

Perkins, an ESPN analyst who has had passionate opinions before, compared Sanders to former President Barack Obama in a recent podcast appearance.

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Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders (12) smiles as he chats on the sideline during the second half of an NFL football game at Huntington Bank Field on Nov. 16, 2025, in Cleveland, Ohio. (Jeff Lange/USA Today Network via Imagn Images)

“Are you ready for this shot? Shedeur Sanders is the most powerful black man since 2009. Do you know what happened in 2009? That’s when President Obama was elected to office. He’s the most powerful black man since 2009,” Perkins said on “LGND TLK.”

“Here’s why I say that. You said you were sitting watching the game at your house, and what did you do? You ran with the TV… What were you doing? You were cheering like a motherfucker. When Shedeur Sanders is on the field, this is the only time I see blacks come together as one, drop all swords. There’s no black fighting nothing… Everybody rooting for Shedeur Sanders.

FORMER NFL STAR PRAISES SHEDEUR SANDERS FOR ‘MENTAL RESISTANCE’ TO RECOVER FROM BAD DEBUT TO BEAT RAIDERS

Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders arrives before the game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium on Nov. 23, 2025. (Kirby Lee/Image Images)

“And when I say powerful, there are two sides. He’s uniting the entire black community. I haven’t come across a single black person who has said anything bad about Shedeur. None because he has the balance. He has the balance of, ‘I’m arrogant but I’m also humble.’ And he’s having fun with this s—. … He’s the most powerful black man in sports. You know, damn black man, he’s the most powerful player in sports. Because even when he’s not playing, he’s still being talked about.”

Sanders has only appeared in two NFL games this season. The Browns drafted him in the fifth round in the spring and he had to work his way up to becoming a starter.

The former Colorado standout has shown how prepared he is and how much confidence he has in his abilities as a football player. His debut against the Baltimore Ravens was very different from the victory over the Las Vegas Raiders.

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The Browns gave him the nod for Week 13 against the San Francisco 49ers.

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