Vince Young warns Shedeur Sanders about the harsh reality of being an NFL quarterback

The former NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year and No. 3 overall pick entered the league as one of the biggest prospects of his generation. After leading the Texas Longhorns to a national championship victory over the USC Trojans in his final college season, Vince Young lived up to the expectations surrounding his arrival in the NFL: he was named to the Pro Bowl as a rookie and guided the Tennessee Titans to the playoffs in his second season.

He also became the first and only rookie player to appear on the cover of the Madden video game the following year.

However, Young’s NFL journey was defined by intense pressure. The quarterback faced constant criticism due to his inconsistency on the field, his complicated relationship with head coach Jeff Fisher, and the relentless scrutiny from the media. His career ended earlier than expected, with the two-time Pro Bowl selection playing his final NFL game at the age of 28 in 2011 .

Now, the former quarterback is telling his story in a new Netflix documentary as part of the Untold series, a production that chronicles his journey from his days at the University of Texas to the end of his professional career, including brief offseason stints with the Cleveland Browns, Green Bay Packers, and Buffalo Bills.

At 43 years old, Young also shared a message for current Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders , who has faced heavy criticism since before entering the NFL. The son of Deion Sanders went from being viewed as a potential first-round pick to falling all the way to the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft .

“I hate to see what’s going on in Cleveland right now,” Young told Heavy Sports. “I hate to see that quarterbacks gotta prove theirselves each and every year. But it’s like negative energy. It’s not supportive. You know what I mean? I hate to see that.”

Vince Young’s advice for Shedeur Sanders and Deshaun Watson

Young compared Sanders’ situation to some of the most difficult moments of his own career and highlighted the immense pressure young quarterbacks face when expectations are sky-high.

Sanders is currently competing with veteran Deshaun Watson for the starting quarterback job in Cleveland . Watson has also faced criticism due to off-field controversies and is attempting to return as the Browns’ offensive leader after nearly two years away from football because of an Achilles injury.

“When I was in that same position, I felt like that with all the stuff that happened, it’s like you gotta continue to try to change the perception of who you are every time, and you’re actually working your butt off, but you’re also dealing with a heavy load of the whole world talking about you,” Young said.

“In that case, it’s not easy dealing with that. I can tell guys like Shedeur Sanders and Deshaun Watson, just make sure y’all got somebody in your corner that you can talk to — because it is a lot. That is a lot to deal with, and you gotta perform, and you gotta complete that throw, and you gotta be a leader. It is a lot.”