Browns' Shedeur Sanders to change jersey number from 12 to 2

Sanders will revert to the number he and his father Deion had retired at their alma maters.

Mar. 30, 2026 at 7:58pm

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A fragmented, cubist-style painting depicting a football player in the motion of throwing a pass, with sharp geometric shapes in vivid colors representing the dynamic energy of the sport.Shedeur Sanders' switch to his family's iconic No. 2 jersey number symbolizes his rising NFL stardom and connection to his football legacy.Cleveland Today

Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders will wear No. 2 for the 2026 season, reverting to the jersey number he and his father, Deion Sanders, had retired at their alma maters of Jackson State and Colorado. Sanders wore No. 12 as a rookie in 2025 but is now switching to No. 2 after wide receiver DeAndre Carter, who had the number, was placed on injured reserve and is now a free agent.

Why it matters

Sanders' decision to switch to No. 2 is significant as it connects him to his family's football legacy. The number was retired by both Jackson State and Colorado, where Shedeur and his father Deion played college football. This move will further cement Shedeur's status as a rising star in the NFL and continue to build the Sanders family's brand in professional sports.

The details

As a fifth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Sanders initially wore No. 12 for the Browns since wide receiver DeAndre Carter had already taken No. 2. However, with Carter now a free agent, Sanders has the opportunity to reclaim the number that holds special meaning for him and his family. Shedeur wore No. 2 at both Jackson State and Colorado, where his jersey was retired alongside that of his father, NFL Hall of Famer Deion Sanders, who also donned the number at Florida State.

  • In March 2026, Shedeur Sanders announced he would be switching from No. 12 to No. 2 for the upcoming 2026 NFL season.
  • Shedeur Sanders wore No. 12 as a rookie for the Browns in the 2025 season.
  • DeAndre Carter, who had been wearing No. 2 for the Browns, was placed on injured reserve after Week 4 of the 2025 season and is now a free agent.

The players

Shedeur Sanders

The Cleveland Browns' second-year quarterback who is switching his jersey number from 12 to 2, the same number his father Deion Sanders wore in college and the NFL.

Deion Sanders

Shedeur's father, a Pro Football Hall of Famer who wore No. 2 at Florida State University and had the number retired by the school. Deion is currently the head football coach at the University of Colorado.

DeAndre Carter

The wide receiver who previously wore No. 2 for the Browns but was placed on injured reserve after Week 4 of the 2025 season and is now a free agent, opening up the number for Shedeur Sanders.

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What they’re saying

“'Nah, I'm not trying to buy anything. My signing bonus ain't that high right now.'”

— Shedeur Sanders, Browns Quarterback

What’s next

The Browns will officially announce Shedeur Sanders' jersey number change from 12 to 2 in the coming days, solidifying his connection to his family's football legacy.

The takeaway

Shedeur Sanders' decision to switch his jersey number from 12 to 2 is a symbolic move that links him to his family's storied football history. By reclaiming the number retired by his alma maters and his father, the young quarterback is further establishing himself as a rising star and continuing to build the Sanders family brand in the NFL.