- Both Shedeur Sanders and Tom Brady became starters after the previous quarterback was injured.
- Sanders fell to the fifth round of the NFL draft, while Brady was a sixth-round pick.
- Brady sent Sanders a supportive text message after his disappointing draft experience.
Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders knows Tom Brady, learned from Tom Brady and now wants to launch his NFL career like Tom Brady did 25 years ago.
Sanders’ father Deion also held Brady up as a model for his son after Shedeur fell to the fifth round in the NFL draft in April.
That’s because Brady, the legendary NFL quarterback, was a sixth-round pick out of Michigan in 2000 before going on to win seven Super Bowls.
Brady even sent Shedeur a text message after his disappointing draft experience and told him to “use it as motivation.”
Here’s how their NFL career starts compare after the former Colorado quarterback made his starting debut Sunday in Las Vegas:
How they got their first NFL starts
Brady got his first NFL start for New England on Sept. 30, 2001 after the previous starter, Drew Bledsoe, was knocked out of action in the previous game on a vicious hit by a defender.
Shedeur Sanders got his first NFL start Sunday, Nov. 23, after the previous starter, Dillon Gabriel, was knocked of the previous game with a concussion.
How they did in their first NFL starts
Brady led the Patriots to a 44-13 win over the Indianapolis Colts.
Shedeur Sanders led the Browns to a 24-10 win over the Las Vegas Raiders, a team that Brady partly owns.
How they did statistically in their first NFL starts
Brady completed 13 of 23 passes for 168 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions. His passer rating was 79.6.
Shedeur Sanders completed 11 of 20 passes for 209 yards and one touchdown with one interception. His passer rating was 87.3.
How good were their teams?
The Patriots were 0-2 when Brady took over as start. The Patriots finished that year with an 11-5 record.
The Browns were 2-8 when Sanders took over Sunday in Las Vegas, which Brady did not attend because he was broadcasting a Dallas Cowboys game for FOX Sports. The Browns next play against San Francisco on Nov. 30.
OK, but what about cars?
They both like Rolls-Royce Cullinans. Brady has been seen in one. Shedeur had wanted one, too, leading his father to ask Tom Brady in 2023 if a college kid needed such a car.
“I think he needs to get his (butt) in the film room and spend as much time in there as possible,” Brady said on his podcast then.
“Thank you, Tom,” Deion Sanders said.
“Less time in the car and more time in the film room,” Brady said.
“I seen you had one too, Tom,” Shedeur Sanders replied.
Super Bowl trophies are another matter. One game down for Shedeur. Only seven Super Bowls to go.
Follow reporter Brent Schrotenboer @Schrotenboer. Email: bschrotenb@usatoday.com