When Shedeur Sanders’ name was finally “called” in the fifth round of the NFL Draft, it didn’t just send shockwaves across the sports world — it sent a clear, painful reminder that for Black men in America, excellence is often not enough.
Statistically speaking, quarterbacks with Shedeur’s numbers over the past five years are routinely drafted in the first or second rounds. His performance, leadership, and pedigree placed him squarely among the top quarterback prospects. Yet somehow, he slid all the way into the fifth round — a total anomaly, unless you factor in the uncomfortable truth: meritocracy seems to have limits when it meets Black privilege, Black confidence, and Black pride.
Black With No Chaser’s Chief Operating Officer, Bartholomew Allen, put it plainly:
“America is terrified when Black people attain FREEDOM in its totality! When they can’t control you with finances, fame, land, position, or wealth, they scramble to tug at the very last bit of power that remains… The NFL is run by a bunch of racist white men who are scared of losing their institution to the uprising of Black excellence!”
The idea that Black athletes must perform perfectly and quietly to be deemed “worthy” has been a recurring theme in American sports media and culture. Rita Brent, comedian and writer, added her voice, noting that Black success is often met with cautionary warnings about “getting the big head,” a coded language meant to suppress natural pride and confidence.
“The simple truth,” she wrote, “is Black folks who are wealthy, powerful, confident, successful, and self-actualized offend some people’s bottom line. They want your blessings to have a CAP. They want your elevation and impact to be temporary, so they can feel better about their own shortcomings.”
The parallels to Black men being villainized outside of sports are eerily familiar. It’s the same bias that led to the tragic portrayal of Karmelo Sincere Anthony, a 17-year-old African-American teen from Texas, who has been dehumanized in news media coverage despite his humanity deserving full consideration. Whether on a football field or in a courtroom, Black boys too often find themselves seen as threats first and people second.
Even celebrated sports journalist Stephen A. Smith couldn’t ignore the implications of Shedeur’s draft day slight, quoting a source who texted him:
“This feels like Kaepernick-level collusion.”
Smith added that despite all the NFL’s efforts to present a progressive, inclusive image, the owners’ actions — intentional or not — undermined everything, reintroducing perceptions of systemic bias and exclusion at the league’s highest levels.
And so, the uncomfortable truth looms: In the NFL and beyond, Black merit is not enough. Black privilege — meaning, a life not built on hardship but on empowerment — is punished. Black pride is punished. Black self-determination is punished.
But here’s what they don’t realize: Shedeur Sanders is not just a draftee. He is a movement. His presence, his audacity, his lineage, and his Black excellence are part of an unstoppable force. As Bartholomew Allen said best:
“Black Joy…Black Excellence is here to stay. With…OR WITHOUT YOU!”
The world better get ready. The era of apologizing for our brilliance is over. Whether they draft us in the first round, the fifth, or not at all — we will continue writing our own story.
About the Author:
Chuck Patterson is the Chief Creative and Design Officer at Black With No Chaser. A proud husband, sports dad, and storyteller, Chuck uses his creativity to capture the heartbeat of Black culture, politics, and excellence. Whether behind the camera or at the design table, he’s committed to shaping narratives that amplify truth, joy, and power.
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