Dillon Gabriel Attempts to Clarify Controversial Shedeur Sanders Comments

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Dave Ettinger | Last updated Aug 16, 2025 10:11 PM ET

Dillon Gabriel is one of six quarterbacks currently on the Cleveland Browns roster. After being the first QB selected by the Browns in the 2025 NFL draft with pick No. 94 of the third round, the Browns followed up that decision by selecting Shedeur Sanders with pick No. 144 of the fifth round of the same draft.

Many around the NFL have questioned the team's decision, as they currently have Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, Sanders, Gabriel, Deshaun Watson, and Tyler Huntley on their roster.

While the Browns' unofficial depth charts have listed both Sanders and Gabriel as third-string QBs throughout the preseason, each have received a start in the team's first two preseason games.

Sanders put on a show last week against the Carolina Panthers, completing 14-of-23 passes for 138 yards and two touchdowns. And following this Saturday's uneven performance by Gabriel, who turned the ball over twice against the Philadelphia Eagles, it was his postgame comments that caught everyone's attention.

“There’s entertainers, and there’s competitors, and I totally understand that. My job is to compete, and that’s what I’m focused on doing,” Gabriel said.

Browns rookie QB Dillon Gabriel on his NFL preseason debut: “There’s entertainers and there’s competitors and I understand that but my job is to compete.”pic.twitter.com/vVHffXoaB5
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 16, 2025

Many around the league have taken these comments as a direct shot fired at Garbiel's own teammate, Sanders.

With social media, and NFL fans still abuzz over the controversial comments, Gabriel attempted to clarify his comments when speaking to reporters after the game.

"All you in this room [media members] are entertainers... I'm a competitor."

Dillon Gabriel clarifies who he was referring to in his "entertainers and competitors" comment during his mid-game interview that drew attention. pic.twitter.com/7GbVCzQAj1
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) August 16, 2025

"You know you all of you in this room are entertainers and you have a job to do, and I respect it, right? And I'm a competitor, so I have a job to do as well and I think you know just understanding that's how I've lived and I've said that multiple times so definitely not a new quote but something that I definitely said before," Gabriel said.

"So, you were referring to the media?" a reporter asked.

"Yeah," Gabriel immediately responded.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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