Logo

Football fan alleges discrimination, collusion in NFL draft against Shedeur Sanders: Lawsuit

Atlanta, GA – May 2025 — The NFL is facing a $100 million lawsuit from a football fan who alleges that the league conspired to damage quarterback Shedeur Sanders’ draft position, causing him “severe emotional distress,” according to court documents obtained by ABC News.

The suit, filed in federal court in Atlanta by an anonymous individual identified only as “John Doe,” claims that NFL teams intentionally collaborated to push Sanders into a lower draft round—a move the plaintiff argues violates antitrust, civil rights, and consumer protection laws.

Sanders, a standout quarterback from Colorado, was projected to be a top-five pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, with ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. ranking him as the second-best QB available. Sanders had an impressive 2024 season, completing 353 of 477 passes (74%) and leading the Buffaloes to their first nine-win season since 2014.

But expectations collapsed on draft weekend when Sanders fell to the fifth round, eventually selected 144th overall by the Cleveland Browns—a team that passed on him six times and even drafted Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel in the third round, despite Kiper ranking Gabriel just eighth among quarterbacks.

The surprise slide became one of the biggest storylines of draft weekend, drawing record viewership on Day 3. But for the fan behind the lawsuit, the experience was traumatic.

“The NFL’s actions and the spread of harmful statements about Sanders have caused me severe emotional distress and trauma,” Doe wrote in the lawsuit.

According to the filing, Doe is a Georgia resident and long-time Colorado football fan who attended the Buffaloes’ 2023 game vs. TCU—Sanders' debut, where he threw for 510 yards and four touchdowns in a 45-42 win.

The lawsuit alleges that negative reports about Sanders’ pre-draft interviews unfairly damaged his image and cost him millions in potential earnings. It accuses the NFL of:

  1. Violating the Sherman Antitrust Act by suggesting teams coordinated to suppress Sanders’ draft value.

  • Violating the Civil Rights Act by implying racial bias may have played a role in his drop.

  • Violating consumer protection laws by misleading fans about the fairness and transparency of the draft process.

  • As of now, the NFL has not issued a public response to the legal action.

    This lawsuit adds yet another twist to the dramatic draft fall of Shedeur Sanders, who remains one of the most discussed players of the 2025 class—both for his on-field potential and the off-field controversy now surrounding his selection.

    Panthers Cheerleader Sues a Panthers Player for Harassment by Flirting with Her While Already Married
    Can you believe it? A beautiful, talented cheerleader from the Carolina Panthers is "furious" and dragging a team player to court for "unacceptable" actions! Grace Kramer – the TopCats icon – has officially filed a lawsuit, and the story behind it is making NFL fans "boil with rage"! Could this be the "scandal of the century" for the Panthers? Read now for the "steamy" details! Grace Kramer, a professional cheerleader for the American football team Carolina Panthers in the NFL, is a prominent member of the TopCats group. She is a former student at Clemson University, where she participated in the Rally Cats cheer squad. Before that, Grace was a dancer for the NBA and holds a consulting degree from Wake Forest University (WFU). Grace is active on social media, often sharing about games, community activities, and her role as a brand ambassador for the Panthers. As part of the 25-member TopCats team, Grace engages in fan interactions, community events, and performances at Panthers games. She has an Instagram account (@grace_kramer37) with posts about cheer life and a TikTok (@gracekramer_) where she shares videos about game days. Before joining the Panthers, she worked at Darden (related to the restaurant or service industry), proving her versatility and hard work. But the "nightmare" began when Grace got "entangled" with a Panthers player! That's Jake Harlan, a backup offensive tackle who rarely plays for the Panthers – a guy who's practically "unknown" to fans, only appearing sporadically on special teams and never a star. Harlan, 28 years old, has been married since 2022 to his wife, an elementary school teacher, and they have a 2-year-old son. Yet, according to Grace's lawsuit, Harlan has been "flirting" with her blatantly, despite his marital status! The "explosion" happened when Harlan started sending "sweet" messages to Grace via Instagram, complimenting her beauty and talent after performances. At first, Grace thought it was just casual praise from a teammate, but things quickly "escalated" into harassment! Harlan called her in the middle of the night – sometimes at 2-3 a.m. – to "confide" about his personal life, invite her for private coffee dates, and even send "suggestive" photos of himself! Grace stated in the lawsuit: "He knows full well I just want to focus on my work and career, but he won't stop. Those midnight calls scare me and cause insomnia, seriously affecting my mental health!" According to insider sources, Harlan has been "stalking" Grace since the start of the season, frequently showing up at community events she attends, and deliberately "creating opportunities" to approach her. Harlan's wife, upon discovering, was "furious" and even threatened divorce, but the guy still "didn't wake up"! The Panthers are "shaken" by this scandal: The team management has temporarily suspended Harlan for investigation, while fans are divided – one side supports Grace's "strong condemnation," the other suspects it's a "PR stunt." The NFL league is also monitoring closely, which could lead to heavy fines or a playing ban! Grace, with her "goddess" image on TikTok and Instagram, is now becoming a "victim" of harassment – a hot-button issue in the sports world! How will the court handle Harlan? And will the Panthers "clean house" to protect their cheerleaders? Don't miss out – follow now for the next "drama" update! What do you think about this case, comment below!