Travis Kelce urges Browns to start Shedeur Sanders in season opener

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce told listeners on his “New Heights” podcast he wants Cleveland to give rookie Shedeur Sanders the start against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce said this week he would like to see Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders start the Browns’ season opener next weekend against the Cincinnati Bengals. Kelce made the comments on his “New Heights” podcast as the NFL regular season approaches, arguing Browns fans — and a wider audience — want to see Sanders on the field.

“Give the people what they want, in terms of the Browns fans,” Kelce said on the episode. “Start Shedeur. Give the people what they want. The world wants to see him go out there, and not only play, but have success. At this point, guys are rooting for him. This isn’t anything against Dillon. This isn’t anything against Joe [Flacco].” The remarks highlighted growing public interest in Sanders, who has been a frequent topic of conversation since the April draft.

"Getty Images: Kelce on the sideline during the Chiefs' 2025 preseason game"

Kelce’s endorsement adds a high-profile voice to a developing quarterback conversation in Cleveland. Sanders, who entered the draft with first-round projections, slipped to the fifth round where the Browns selected him after taking fellow quarterback Dillon Gabriel two rounds earlier. The Browns also have veteran Joe Flacco on the roster, giving Cleveland multiple options at the position as it approaches its opener at Cincinnati.

Kelce, an established All-Pro tight end for the Chiefs, framed his comments as a plea to satisfy fan interest rather than a critique of the Browns’ existing quarterbacks. His public backing underscores the attention Sanders has attracted since the draft, a mix of media coverage, fan intrigue and social-media buzz surrounding the rookie’s transition to the NFL.

"New York Post: Kelce portrait during 2025 preseason coverage"

Shedeur Sanders’ draft slide was a major storyline this offseason. After being widely projected by some analysts to go in the first round, he remained available until the fifth round, when Cleveland added him to a quarterback room that already included a veteran starter and a recently drafted passer. That sequence of selections has fueled speculation and debate about who will lead the Browns on opening day, with Kelce’s comments amplifying one popular view.

The Browns are scheduled to open their season at Cincinnati next weekend, and the team’s choice of starter will likely be scrutinized by fans and media alike. Sanders’ presence on the roster and the attention surrounding him mean any decision about playing time will be closely watched, particularly given Kelce’s public plea and the broader interest in rookie quarterbacks this year.

Kelce’s remarks came on an episode of “New Heights,” the podcast he co-hosts, where he and co-hosts often discuss league storylines and high-profile players. The comment that his position is “not anything against Dillon” or Flacco sought to temper the endorsement as encouragement rather than direct criticism of Cleveland’s other quarterbacks.

Beyond the immediate starter decision, Sanders’ role with the Browns represents a larger storyline for the team’s offseason roster construction and long-term quarterback planning. Coaching staff decisions in the coming days will resolve which player takes the first snaps in Cincinnati, but Kelce’s public support both reflects and fuels the national conversation around the Browns’ quarterback room as the NFL season begins.