Shedeur Sanders Gifts Browns Coach Golden Horse Head

Unusual gesture reveals early bond as Cleveland's QB battle takes shape

Apr. 1, 2026 at 1:52am

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Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders presented new head coach Todd Monken with an unusual gift - a 24k gold porcelain horse's head statue that now sits prominently in Monken's office. The gesture is seen as an early sign of the strong bond developing between the young QB and his new coach, as the Browns prepare for an open quarterback competition heading into next season.

Why it matters

Sanders, a 5th round draft pick last year, is looking to solidify his role as the Browns' starting QB after taking over the job late in the 2025 season. His offseason commitment and this personal gift to Monken suggest he is taking the competition seriously and trying to get a leg up on his rivals, including Deshaun Watson and Dillon Gabriel.

The details

Monken revealed that Sanders gave him the expensive horse head statue, which the coach said he would display alongside Browns helmets in his office. Monken joked that if Deshaun Watson had given him an elephant, he would have displayed that as well, indicating he is open to personal gestures from his players. The Browns coach also made clear that the upcoming QB competition will not be evenly split, with reps distributed based on prior evaluations and performance.

  • Shedeur Sanders was drafted by the Browns in the 5th round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
  • Sanders took over as the Browns' starting QB in Week 12 of the 2025 season.

The players

Shedeur Sanders

A 5th round draft pick of the Cleveland Browns in 2025, Sanders took over as the team's starting quarterback late in his rookie season and is now competing to retain the job in 2026.

Todd Monken

The new head coach of the Cleveland Browns, who previously tried to draft Shedeur Sanders while with the Baltimore Ravens.

Deshaun Watson

The veteran quarterback for the Cleveland Browns, who is also competing with Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel for the starting job.

Dillon Gabriel

A third-round draft pick of the Browns in 2026, Gabriel is also in the mix to be the team's starting quarterback next season.

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What they’re saying

“If Deshaun gave me an elephant, I'd have that up there too.”

— Todd Monken, Head Coach, Cleveland Browns

What’s next

The Browns will hold an open quarterback competition during the offseason program, with reps distributed based on prior evaluations and performance rather than an even split.

The takeaway

Shedeur Sanders' unusual gift to his new head coach suggests the young quarterback is taking his competition for the starting job very seriously, and is working hard to build a strong relationship with Todd Monken as he looks to solidify his role in Cleveland.