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Deshaun Watson’s QB coach throws major shade at Deion Sanders despite his client being the teammate of Shedeur Sanders

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Brandon Little | Last updated Jul 8, 2025 10:17 AM ET

The Cleveland Browns have one of the more interesting quarterback rooms in the NFL heading into 2025—coming off a disappointing 3-14 season, just one year after making the playoffs.

Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett provide the experience in the room and are the frontrunners to start early in the season. But Cleveland also doubled down in the draft, selecting both Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders, adding plenty of youth and potential to the mix.

Meanwhile, Deshaun Watson—who reinjured his Achilles—may not play at all in 2025. Regardless, the Browns have made it clear they’ve moved on from him, even though he’s still on the roster.

Now, Watson’s personal quarterback coach, Quincy Avery, is making headlines for his comments about Deion Sanders, Shedeur’s father.

“The reason I have such a difficult time with Deion is because so many of the things he does—it’s about him rather than other people,” Avery said recently. “I think a lot of people miss that part—so we get to see who he is as a person when he has to take on this team without his sons involved.”

“He’s going to really find out if this is something that he truly loves or was he loving it because he got to help out his kids in a real way.”@QuincyAvery says Deion Sanders is going to find out a lot about himself this upcoming season. pic.twitter.com/QUxAzd6u4P
— Maggie and Perloff (@MaggieandPerl) July 1, 2025

Avery went on to suggest that things could look very different at Colorado with both Shedeur and Shilo Sanders no longer on the field.

“My forecast is that at some point this year, it’s going to get really, really difficult, and Deion Sanders is going to have to make a real decision,” Avery continued. “Was he doing this the whole time to prop his son up and help him become this top-tier quarterback—which he did help him do? Or does he want to do this because he really cares about the kids?”

Those are bold comments from Avery, who not only trains Watson but also works with several NFL quarterbacks. Deion, known for his outspoken personality and bold leadership style, has often been criticized for that style. Some believe the people in Shedeur’s inner circle—including his father—may have contributed to his slide to the fifth round in the draft.

As for the Browns, their focus is on finding the quarterback who gives them the best chance to win. Regardless of how things start, it’s expected that the team will get a look at their rookie QBs at some point during the 2025 season—and Shedeur Sanders is likely to get his opportunity. When that time comes, all the outside noise will take a back seat to what happens on the field.

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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