Shedeur Sanders is in the fight of his young career. Rookies report to Berea on July 23, veterans follow on July 28, and the Cleveland Browns‘ quarterback room is walking into camp with the starting job wide open between Sanders and a healthy Deshaun Watson.
Cleveland’s new head coach, Todd Monken, has refused to name a QB1, calling the competition too close to call after a spring of split first-team reps.
Jun 11, 2026; Berea, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders (2) during minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
Yet, right in the middle of that competitive grind, Sanders unexpectedly dropped a brand-new song.
Shedeur Sanders releases “Turn Back” song ahead of year 2 with Browns
The move definitely caught some fans off guard, especially given what Deion Sanders’ son said right after the 2025 draft. Back then, with the cameras rolling on draft night, he made a big point of saying music was going on the back burner so he could focus entirely on football.
“I just want to ball, bro,” Sanders said at the time. “I just want to ball.”
Humble: Shedeur Sanders after finally getting drafted:
“I just want to ball bro” ❤️🥹
Shedeur will prove many people wrong next season. pic.twitter.com/FIIZOlwdYE
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) April 27, 2025
Well, that break is officially over. Sanders just released his second single, “Turn Back,” on Spotify and other streaming platforms, marking his first real drop since 2024’s “Perfect Timing”.
He even posted a fun behind-the-scenes video celebrating the release at dinner with his older brother, Shilo. It gives fans a quick look at his life outside of sports right before he dives headfirst into the quarterback battle that will define his summer. And earlier this month, he helped compose his older brother’s song track called “Miami with Shedeur” as well.
Shedeur Sanders’ QB battle doesn’t leave much room for side hustles
The timing really stands out because Sanders doesn’t have much room for error right now. He finished his rookie year with a 3-4 record as the starter over the final seven games, playing well enough to put pressure on Deshaun Watson. Watson is still working his way back from a torn Achilles that re-ruptured during recovery, which cost him almost all of last season.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported that while Watson started the spring as the favorite, Sanders closed the gap. The coaching staff noticed how comfortable he looked running the first-team offense.
Nothing is decided yet. Todd Monken said both quarterbacks earned the right to compete once training camp starts, and the battle will likely last through the preseason. A new song on Spotify does not change the depth chart, but it shows Sanders is comfortable handling outside attention while fighting for a starting job.
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