Shilo Sanders tried something new during the Winter Olympics buzz – and quickly learned it wasn’t his sport.
The former Colorado defensive back posted a YouTube vlog documenting his first attempt at snowboarding, but the experiment ended abruptly after a painful fall that left him shaken and limping away with a swollen knee.
The video, titled “I Almost Ended My Career Snowboarding,” captured the moment he lost control on a rail feature while riding downhill. After initially clearing the first section smoothly, Sanders attempted a second trick and slammed into the rail before sliding down the slope.
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Lying flat on his back, he immediately surrendered.
I’m done, bro. I’m done.
Moments later he explained what went wrong.
“You know what happened, I hit the front lip. It didn’t hurt that bad, I just fell on the rail. It looked worse than it was.”
The clip quickly spread online, with fans reacting to both the crash and the blunt honesty of his reaction.
Life after football and a risky experiment for Sanders
Sanders, 26, has been navigating uncertainty in his football career after going undrafted and briefly joining the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent. He was unable to secure a permanent roster spot, leaving his next professional step unclear.
With no active team commitments, the Dallas native has been exploring content creation and lifestyle videos – including the snowboarding challenge that nearly turned into a serious injury.
After the fall, Sanders returned to his hotel room and showed visible swelling in his knee. Fortunately, the injury appeared minor, and he joked that he wouldn’t need to explain it to any coaching staff.
The moment highlighted the difference between elite athleticism and sport-specific skill. Even professional football players – trained for speed, impact and balance – can struggle in unfamiliar environments like winter sports, where technique and edge control matter more than raw strength.
Sanders’ athletic background is well known. He played two seasons at Colorado alongside his brother, quarterback Shedeur Sanders, after transferring from Jackson State. Both were coached by their father, Pro Football Hall of Famer Deion Sanders, making them one of the most recognizable family stories in college football over the past few years.
But this time, the spotlight came from a viral mishap rather than a game-day highlight.
The crash also served as a reminder of how quickly an offseason activity can become dangerous. For athletes trying to extend or restart their careers, avoiding preventable injuries is critical – even outside organized competition.
For now, Sanders appears to have learned his lesson.
The snowboard experiment lasted just one run, one fall, and one final decision:
“I’m done.”