Deion Sanders was Kyle Shanahan’s favorite player when he was a kid in a No. 21 jersey. On Sunday, Shanahan’s job is to make life miserable for Coach Prime’s son.

Shedeur Sanders makes his second NFL start when the Cleveland Browns (3–8) host the San Francisco 49ers (8–4), with a chance to become the first Browns rookie QB to start 2–0 since 1995. He already made history last week, becoming the first Browns rookie since ’95 to win his debut after a 24–10 victory over the Raiders.

“He was probably my number one player as a true fan,” Shanahan said about Deion Sanders. “I always talk about how I got his jersey in ’94. I wore it for about six months straight until someone jacked it from me. I’m still looking for that guy. He was just different from everyone, his talent and everything. My wife and daughter are huge Colorado fans, too. So, I hear about Buffaloes all the time.”

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Coach Prime’s Colorado squad wraps its season at Kansas State on Saturday, and while he flew to Vegas for Shedeur’s first start, the rookie isn’t sure if his dad will be in the Dawg Pound this time.

A win would cement Sanders’ early momentum. He went 11-of-20 for 209 yards, a touchdown and a pick in his debut, flashing his off-script ability with a 52-yard strike to Isaiah Bond.

Shanahan’s already noticed.

He said he was impressed with Sanders’ ability to escape and extend plays, while 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh zeroed in on Browns rookie workhorse Quinshon Judkins, who leads NFL rookies with 667 rushing yards and seven touchdowns.

“They’ve got a style. They’ll evolve as an offense. I wish I could tell you exactly what it’s going to be,” Saleh said. “I’m sure they’ll keep adding little wrinkles to help Sanders grow as a football player. We’ll have to be great in those moments and play sound, fundamental football.”

San Francisco might be last in the league in sacks (13), but the secondary is heating up with four interceptions over the last two games. Sanders has been picked twice in his first six quarters.

“They’re great in coverage and have great disguises overall, so getting pressure on the quarterback isn’t their only strength,” Sanders said. “We know they’re going to have something different cooking for us.”

On the other side, it’s a showcase for Myles Garrett, who needs two sacks to join the 20-sack club.

“That get-off’s amazing,” Shanahan said of Garrett. “When you put that with amazing ability, that to me comes around generationally. And then you got a guy who’s played in a similar system for a while, who has stayed healthy, who’s doing it over and over again, and trying to be great. When you have all that, how can you not be what he is? So, it’s been extremely impressive.”

Layer in a nasty Cleveland forecast — with Shanahan showing the team snow tape from last year — and ball security becomes everything. Brock Purdy, who struggled in those conditions before, knows it.

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“It does change the mindset of taking care of the ball,” he said. “But, at the same time, you do have to drop back, you’ve got to throw it on time. And if it’s not there in time, let’s be smart with the ball.”

The 49ers will lean heavily on Christian McCaffrey, who leads the league with 1,581 scrimmage yards and is tracking a rare 1,000/1,000 season.

But Sunday in the Dawg Pound, all eyes will be on Shedeur Sanders — and whether Coach Prime’s favorite NFL team growing up can stop Coach Prime’s son from starting his own streak.

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