Since Deion Sanders became head coach of the Colorado Buffaloes, the question hasn’t been if he would eventually jump to the NFL — it’s been when.
Sanders turned Colorado into an instant media spectacle when he arrived in Boulder in 2023. Despite a .432 winning percentage and a 16-21 record through three seasons, no coach has brought more national relevance and visibility to the program than Coach Prime.
After a resurgent 9-4 campaign in 2024, speculation intensified that Sanders could make the leap to the NFL. The primary reason? The possibility of once again coaching his son, Shedeur Sanders.
Ironically, now he claims it’s because of Shedeur that he’ll never take an NFL job.
Deion Sanders Says NFL Door Is Closed
Sanders appeared on the Feb. 6 episode of ESPN’s “First Take” and was immediately asked whether anything could lure him to the NFL.
“Not whatsoever,” Sanders said. “What transpired with my son last year, there ain’t no way in the world.”
He abruptly stopped himself mid-thought before going any further.
“God said you a head coach now, you can’t do that,” Sanders said, laughing alongside hosts Cam Newton and Ryan Clark.
Shedeur entered the 2025 NFL Draft projected by many as a first-round pick, and early on, No. 1 overall. Instead, he endured one of the most stunning draft slides in recent memory, falling to the fifth round at No. 144 overall to the Cleveland Browns, who had already drafted Dillon Gabriel in the third round.
“All the bulljunk they was putting out on him this time last year, where has that gone?” Sanders asked. “Because he’s a true leader, he’s a bonafide baller, he can play. He studies, he prepares. When he walks into the room, he knows how to win it.”
Shedeur appeared in eight games with the Browns, making seven starts as a rookie, going 3-4. He completed 56.6 percent of his passes for 1,400 yards with seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions.
A Tough Year for the Sanders Family
Shedeur wasn’t the only Sanders dealing with adversity.
“It was a tough year for the Sanders,” Deion said. “Getting our butts kicked in Colorado. We gonna get that right, I can promise you that. We gonna get that right. We got that right by what we did in this portal.”
Colorado finished 3-9 in 2025, it’s worst under Sanders in his three-year run. The Buffaloes ranked No. 23 in the 2026 transfer portal class with 43 new commitments, according to 247Sports.
“But it was tough for the Sanders family,” he continued. “Both of my daughters, Shilo getting cut. He went out swinging … I gotta give him that.”
After going undrafted, Shilo Sanders signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as a free agent. During a preseason game against the Buffalo Bills, he was ejected after punching tight end Zach Davidson following a play. He was later waived during final roster cuts and fined $4,669 by the NFL.
Through it all, Sanders, as usual, remains unwavering in his confidence about the future.
“You didn’t make us, so you can’t break us,” Sanders said. “We are Sanders and we are built to last.”
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