Shilo Sanders Credits His Mom for Fostering His Music Skills Which May Be His New Career if Not NFL

Shedeur Sanders and his brother Shilo Sanders have so far failed to achieve the success many envisioned for them in the NFL. Shedeur’s unprecedented draft slide left him as Cleveland’s QB3, and Shilo is no longer in the league.

Months after getting waived by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers following his ejection during the game against the Buffalo Bills, Shilo remains unsigned. But if there’s one thing the 25-year-old safety isn’t doing, it’s sulking.

Right after his exit, Shilo had reflected on his NFL setback with surprising optimism. “I’m grateful for the opportunity Tampa gave me… God’s blessed me with a lot of talents to do other things other than play football. If this path doesn’t work out, I’ll be fine. I’ve got acting, modeling, music… things I’ve loved my whole life,” he said.

This mindset is something that Shilo has picked up from his father, Deion Sanders, who lives by it and preaches it. “I’ve always told my kids to be well-rounded… Football is a blessing, but it’s not the only thing. Shilo’s got options,” Coach Prime had said earlier this year.

Well, those non-football options seem to be Shilo’s reality now. From making headlines every other week with his streaming and YouTube vlogs to releasing his debut 15-track album, Hate 2 Love, Shilo has seamlessly begun to reshape his identity outside the gridiron. His new single, ‘Change’, is set to drop sometime in November, Shilo recently confirmed on Instagram.

It turns out that while Deion may have passed on the athletic fire, Shilo says his creative side comes from his mom, Pilar Sanders. In a recent interview, he credited her for shaping much of what defines his off-field identity. “She had a great impact, you know,” he began.

“My dad was more about sports… we got some good genetics from my mom also… But just everything off the field was my mom. Music, acting, modeling, even doing the streams… she’s been telling me to stream since I was like 15 years old… She bought my first keyboard,” added Shilo, who then recalled how Pilar pushed him into music long before football came calling.

“When I was younger, she forced me and Shedeur into piano lessons. I used to be crying, like, ‘I don’t want piano lessons — I want football practice!’ But without that, I wouldn’t be who I am today,” said Shilo.

Heartfelt. Shilo Opens Up About His Mother’s Impact on His Life

“She had a great impact. Everything off the field was my mom. Music, acting, modelling, even the streaming. She bought my first keyboard. I wouldn’t be who I am today” https://t.co/VKkIHZGYmT pic.twitter.com/zBIKiumLVT

— JaKi (@JaKiTruth) November 2, 2025

This blend of discipline and creativity seems to be paying off for Shilo. His YouTube channel currently has 237K subscribers, with his vlogs routinely hitting 100K+ views. And Shilo’s music is beginning to attract a small but loyal fan base.

So, whether or not the NFL calls again, Shilo Sanders looks content creating his own path, all thanks to his mother’s influence and father’s support. Who knows, maybe he will end up being the biggest NFL streamer in the country in a few years. With his drive and network, it’s hard to bet against him.