Shedeur Sanders is having one hell of a year. In addition to continuing to crush it on the field as Jackson State University’s quarterback (his dad, NFL Hall of Famer Deion Sanders, has already started his Heisman Trophy campaign), the 20-year-old is the new ambassador for Tom Brady‘s sports apparel brand, Brady.
“I feel blessed being able to partner with Brady Brand. It’s amazing,” Shedeur tells POPSUGAR. Of working alongside the Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback, Shedeur says it’s been “real easy,” adding, “I basically just tell him what I like, what I don’t like, and being able to have a great partnership with him, everything is always open and there’s always room for ideas. There’s a lot of creativity.”
In a statement shared with POPSUGAR, Brady called Shedeur “the perfect ambassador” for his brand. The NFL star says, “He embodies everything we look for in a Brady athlete and his character and values align perfectly with our brand. Not only is he an exceptional football player and quarterback, but he is one of the most influential players of his generation, and we’re thrilled that he’s officially joining the Brady family.”
While Shedeur may be the son of an NFL legend, he’s a star in his own right. During his freshman year at JSU, Shedeur led his team to a SWAC Championship and made history as the first HBCU athlete to win the Jerry Rice Award. He also made headlines when he decided to decommit from Florida Atlantic University to instead attend JSU in support of HBCUs. Through his partnership with Brady, Shedeur will have input on everything from product development to wear testing. He’ll also wear the clothing brand for his upcoming games and throughout the fall season.
Shedeur says his “genuine relationship” with Brady is what initially drew him to the partnership. “I went down to Tampa and trained with Tom before he was with the Bucs, and he was just a real cool person,” he explains. “We talked here and there, and whenever I needed something, I reached out to him, which is amazing. He’s the GOAT, he’s the best player in the world, and for me to be playing in the same position as him is truly amazing. So that’s how the relationship started, and then an idea came out, my team and his team got together, and the rest is history.”
He adds of Brady, “Anytime I call him and ask him — if I just have discomfort with anything, on the field or off — it’s real amazing and real good to have someone like him always in your corner.”
Shedeur clearly has a bright future ahead of him, but right now, he’s just focusing on his partnership with Brady and winning the championship for JSU this football season.