Shedeur Sanders' one financial update has pushed his name back into the spotlight. Before proving himself as a full-time NFL starter, he turned his popularity into a bonanza, breaking Tom Brady's record with a $17.7 million milestone.

Sanders earned a record-breaking $17.7 million in the NFLPA (National Football League Players Association) group licensing income between May 2025 and February 2026. The figure broke 7x Super Bowl champion, Brady's single-season record of $9.5 million made in 2021-22.

“Group licensing encompasses deals that include six or more players, the most typical of which are jerseys, trading cards, video games, and other collectibles,” Front Office Sports’ Daniel Kaplan wrote. “In addition to royalties, the NFLPA figures also include player marketing income from appearances and hospitality promotions.

J.J. McCarthy led the NFL with $4 million earned through his LLC, Newberry Raised, during the 2024–25 season. Now, Sanders hitting $17.7 million reflects the immense support and popularity he enjoys among fans.

The Cleveland Browns quarterback entered the NFL amid heavy scrutiny following his draft, slipping into the fifth round despite being projected as the top pick. Yet his popularity never faded.

Sanders' fans continued buying his merchandise, helping generate licensing revenue that almost doubled Brady's previous record.

The earnings were paid through his limited liability corporation- SS2 Legendary LLC, and did not include several personal endorsement agreements.

The compensation was distributed across 13 installments to his LLC. The largest of those payments, worth over $9.2 million, was issued on May 16, 2025, only 20 days after he was drafted by Cleveland.

Currently, as Sanders continues competing for a larger role in Cleveland, a quarterback battle is brewing in Cleveland.

Shedeur Sanders Awaits Clarity on His Role in Cleveland

With June just around the corner, the spotlight is set to intensify on the Browns' quarterback battle between Deshaun Watson and Sanders. While Todd Monken is yet to make the call, from the OTAs, it's believed to be Watson holding the reins.

“I think he’s ahead, and I don’t think he can be caught at this point of the spring period," ESPN Cleveland’s Tony Grossi reported.

As a rookie, Sanders did not play well enough to grab the starting job. His 18% Bad-Throw Rate means that nearly 1 out of every 5 passes was considered off-target or poorly placed.

The Browns have more than two candidates at quarterback, including Dillon Gabriel and Taylen Green, but all signs point to the offseason battle being led by Sanders and Watson.

Watson has not played in a game since tearing his Achilles during the 2024 season, which kept him out throughout 2025. Now fully healthy, he will have the chance to prove he can fend off Sanders in the Browns' quarterback competition.

As Sanders' future as a starter remains uncertain, share your thoughts on one of the biggest highlights from his offseason.

Read more at Quarter Back Central.

Written by

Hetal Moleshri

Edited by

Soheli Tarafdar