Bucs' Shilo Sanders punches opposing player in preseason game, gets ejected

By Jackson Thompson

Published August 24, 2025

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie safety Shilo Sanders, the son of NFL legend Deion Sanders and brother of Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders, was ejected from his team's preseason game against the Buffalo Bills for throwing a punch at Bills tight end Zach Davidson in the second quarter on Saturday night.

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Head coach Deion Sanders, second from left, with his sons, from left, Shilo, Shedeur and Deion Jr. at the Sport Illustrated Sportsperson Of The Year Award at the CU Events Center Dec. 6, 2023. (Tom Cooper/Getty Images for Prime Video)

The safety is battling for a roster spot after going undrafted out of Colorado, where he played for his father. He was also penalized for pass interference earlier in the game.

"You can’t throw punches in this league. It’s inexcusable. They’re gonna get you every time," Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles said after the game. "You gotta grow from that."

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Buccaneers safety Shilo Sanders catches the ball during rookie minicamp on May 9, 2025, in Tampa, Florida. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Sanders, a hard-hitting and playmaking safety at Colorado, had an impressive debut for the Buccaneers in the preseason opener. But he has strong competition to make Tampa Bay’s roster and his latest impression won’t help his chances.

Sanders was engaged with Davidson for a few yards, pushing and shoving each other. He was immediately flagged after throwing a punch that sent him to the locker room.

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Colorado head coach Deion Sanders talks with Shilo Sanders during the Big 12 NFL Pro Day at Ford Center at The Star on March 20, 2025, in Frisco, Texas. (Aaron M. Sprecher/Getty Images)

It was a tough day for both of the sons of "Coach Prime" in the preseason. Shedeur, a fifth-round pick by Cleveland, was 3 of 6 for 14 yards and took five sacks.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Jackson Thompson is a sports reporter for Fox News Digital covering critical political and cultural issues in sports, with an investigative lens. Jackson's reporting has been cited in federal government actions related to the enforcement of Title IX, and in legacy media outlets including The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Associated Press and ESPN.com.

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