Was Cam Ward’s Historic Rise to No. 1 Pick Overshadowed?

As the 2025 NFL Draft dust settles, most of the chatter has centered around Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders and his unexpected slide into the later rounds. But lost in the noise is perhaps the most under-celebrated achievement of the entire event: Cam Ward being selected No. 1 overall.

Ward, who began his career at Incarnate Word before transferring to Washington State and later Miami, completed a meteoric rise to the top of the draft. Despite the unprecedented nature of his journey and the inspiring narrative behind it, the spotlight remained stubbornly fixed elsewhere.

Former NFL quarterback and ESPN analyst Robert Griffin III summed up the sentiment in a now-viral tweet:

“Cam Ward has to be the least celebrated 1st overall pick that was a QB ever. That sucks because it’s a disservice to the player, person and success story he is.”

The media and fans alike seemed more focused on Shedeur Sanders—who was projected by some to go on Day 2 but slipped to the fifth round—than on celebrating Ward’s moment. Even on social media, fans pointed out the imbalance.

“Everyone was worried about Shedeur. Cam’s moment got overshadowed,” said a post by @thecollegefootballu.

Followers echoed the concern in the comments:

“Nothing against Shedeur, but Cam deserved so much more recognition.”
“Bro went from Incarnate Word to Wazzu to Miami to first overall and we aren’t hearing any of that.”

Ward’s story is the embodiment of perseverance and development—climbing from the FCS ranks to the biggest stage in football. Yet, his achievement has flown under the radar, raising questions about what narratives the football world chooses to amplify.

While Sanders’ name commands attention due to his high-profile lineage and polarizing persona, Ward’s quiet grind to greatness might be the more compelling story—one that deserves far more applause than it received.