Former Buccaneers safety Shilo Sanders made headlines last week after directing misogynistic comments toward Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer—a move that put him back in the NFL spotlight. But beyond the on-field drama, Sanders is facing a much bigger battle off the field: an $11 million debt stemming from a 2015 incident.

The debt traces back to when Sanders, then just 15 years old, allegedly assaulted and severely injured a security guard at his school. The security guard sued both Sanders and his parents—including his father, Colorado head coach Deion Sanders. While the parents were eventually dropped from the lawsuit, a default judgment of $11.89 million was entered against Shilo in 2022 after he failed to show up for trial.

Now, Sanders has filed for bankruptcy protection in an effort to have the debt discharged. But a trial set for later this year will determine whether the debt can actually be wiped clean. The key question: Was the injury "willful and malicious"? If so, the debt cannot be discharged. Sanders has claimed he acted in self-defense, but the legal battle is heating up.

Most recently, the two sides have been arguing over what evidence can be introduced at trial. Sanders' lawyer is trying to exclude evidence regarding his history of discipline in unrelated matters—a move that could shape the outcome of the August 31 court date.

Undrafted in 2025, Sanders signed with the Buccaneers but was released during the preseason and hasn't signed with another team. For now, his NFL future remains uncertain, but his legal troubles are far from over.