Pilar Sanders, mother of Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders, drew widespread attention at her son’s preseason debut — not only for her vocal support on the sidelines but for a striking, custom outfit that quickly went viral on social media.

What she wore and the reaction

Pilar arrived at the Browns’ preseason opener against the Carolina Panthers wearing a coordinated look that prominently featured Shedeur’s No. 12, a crop-top and matching pieces that fans and onlookers described as eye-catching and custom-made for the occasion[1].

She documented the appearance on Instagram with the caption, “Aaaaaand you know itttt!!! Momm’s always present! #proudmom #shedeursanders #gobrowns #nfl #qb1 #footballmom #nflmom #12 #shedeursmom,” and the post included video and photos taken near the field[1][4].

Social media split: praise and criticism

The posts prompted a broad social-media response: many users praised Pilar for her enthusiasm and support, calling her a proud and present mom who celebrated her son’s milestone[4].

At the same time, some commentators criticized the outfit as inappropriate for a woman her age, accusing her of attention-seeking behavior and saying they would have conducted themselves differently at a relative’s professional debut[2].

Context: family presence at the game

Pilar’s appearance came as Shedeur — who joined the Browns after a standout college career at Colorado — made his first NFL preseason start, entering the game amid interest over whether he can secure a roster spot behind veteran quarterbacks on Cleveland’s depth chart[4][5].

The game carried extra family significance: Pilar, who was married to Deion Sanders from 1999 to 2013 and is mother to Shedeur and his brothers Shilo and Shelomi, has been a visible supporter of her sons’ football careers and attended both Shedeur’s and Shilo’s recent preseason appearances[1][3].

On-field performance and implications

On the field, Shedeur completed 14 of 23 passes for 138 yards and threw two first-half touchdown connections with receiver Kaden Davis in Cleveland’s 30-10 win over Carolina, a performance that gave him a solid preseason showcase as he competes for playing time with established veterans ahead of him on the depth chart[4].

How Pilar’s high-profile sideline presence will factor into Shedeur’s media narrative is uncertain, but her appearance underscored the spotlight that follows the Sanders family as multiple members pursue NFL careers[1][3][4].

Family dynamics and public interest

The Sanders family has long attracted public attention; Pilar’s relationship with Deion and their shared children has been covered extensively in sports and lifestyle media, and Pilar’s active social-media presence continues to generate strong reactions whenever she appears at NFL events[1][3].

What’s next

Cleveland returns to preseason action on August 16 against the defending-champion Philadelphia Eagles, where fans will again watch not only Shedeur’s development but whether Pilar makes another notable appearance to support her son[4][5].