Let’s take the “elephant out of the room” once and for all.
When American football player Archie Manning stood proudly behind his sons Peyton and Eli, guiding them, advising them, and leveraging every ounce of his influence and wisdom to make sure his sons had the best shot at success, America called it “legacy.”
They called it “great parenting.” They praised Archie for “being involved,” for “setting the standard,” for “making sure his boys were protected” from the ugly business side of football.
It was a beautiful thing. And it was because that’s what fathers are supposed to do. Especially in a brutal business like the NFL, where players are often seen as disposable after their prime. Archie maneuvered the system masterfully and the public applauded him for it.
Fast forward to Deion Sanders.
Deion, a man who reached the absolute peak of his sport, a Hall of Famer, a businessman, a mentor, a coach, and yes, a proud father, dares to do the exact same thing: Advocate for his sons, protect them, teach them the game beyond the field, and use his hard-earned influence to guide their paths.
And suddenly, it’s a “problem.”
Suddenly, it’s “helicopter parenting.”
Suddenly, it’s “antics.”
Suddenly, his son Shedeur is seen as “baggage” simply because his father stands beside him, not behind him.
Ask yourself, why the different energy? Why is one seen as “legacy,” and the other seen as “liability?’
The answer is uncomfortable but simple: “Complexion.” The Manning family fits the mold the NFL and its culture have long been built around: familiar, comfortable, “safe.”
The Sanders family represents everything the system was never designed to empower: independent, unapologetic, culturally rich, self-made Black excellence that refuses to bow.
The NFL is, at its core, still a “Billionaire Boys Club.” It’s not just about football, it’s about maintaining a structure where Black bodies are celebrated “as long as they entertain” but scrutinized, sidelined or shamed the moment they start commanding power, ownership and voice.
“Stay in your place. Play your role. Be grateful you’re here.” That’s the silent message that echoes behind closed doors. And many don’t even realize they’re repeating it out loud.
Deion Sanders guiding his sons is no different from Archie Manning guiding his. The only difference is the skin they’re in.
And until we, collectively, are willing to confront that uncomfortable truth, we’ll keep seeing young Black men judged not just by their talent, but by how small they are willing to make themselves to fit into a world that was never designed with their full humanity in mind.
Shedeur Sanders deserves to be judged by his play, his leadership, and his preparation, not by the discomfort some feel because his father refuses to shrink. Legacy looks different depending on whose lens you’re looking through. But truth? Truth needs no permission.
Karl Mayes is a Houston-based entrepreneur and former professor at Houston Community College.
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