Shilo Sanders Faces $11.89M Debt from 2015 Incident as Bankruptcy Trial Looms

Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Shilo Sanders has become a focal point in NFL discussions after making misogynistic remarks directed at Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer last week.

Beyond the controversy, Sanders is also navigating a significant financial and legal challenge: a pending bankruptcy case stemming from an $11.89 million debt. This debt originates from a 2015 incident in which Sanders, then 15 years old, allegedly assaulted and severely injured a school security guard. The injured guard subsequently filed a lawsuit against Sanders and his parents, including Deion Sanders, the current head coach of the University of Colorado.

The lawsuit initially named Sanders’ parents, but they were later dismissed from the case. In 2022, a default judgment of $11.89 million was entered against Shilo Sanders after he failed to appear for the trial.

In an effort to resolve the debt, Sanders filed for bankruptcy protection. A trial is scheduled for later this year to determine whether the debt can be discharged. Under bankruptcy law, debts resulting from "willful and malicious injury" are generally not dischargeable. Sanders has argued that his actions were in self-defense.

Legal proceedings have intensified in recent weeks, with Sanders’ legal team attempting to exclude evidence related to his disciplinary history in unrelated matters. A separate trial to resolve this evidentiary dispute is set for August 31.

Sanders, who went undrafted in the 2025 NFL Draft, signed with the Buccaneers but was released during the preseason. He has not since signed with another NFL team.