Deion Sanders

Deion Sanders News: Colorado Coach Named Sportsperson of the Year

Despite concluding his inaugural season as the University of Colorado football coach with a string of six consecutive losses, Deion Sanders—affectionately known as “Coach Prime”—continues to receive significant accolades. Sports Illustrated has named Sanders, 56, its 2023 Sportsperson of the Year in recognition of his efforts to rejuvenate the Buffaloes program and generate excitement within the university and the sport as a whole. The magazine highlighted that Colorado participated in five of the 13 most-watched college football games of the season through November, and, notably, all home games at Folsom Field sold out for the first time in the school’s history.

While Colorado did not qualify for a bowl game, fans will soon have the opportunity to revisit the highs and lows of Sanders’ debut season. Season 2 of the Amazon Prime documentary series Coach Prime will premiere on December 7, chronicling the team’s journey following Sanders’ arrival.

Who Is Deion Sanders?

Deion Sanders stands as one of the most versatile athletes of the modern era, having excelled in both football and baseball. Drafted by the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons in 1989, he also signed with the MLB’s New York Yankees. Notably, Sanders is the only athlete to have scored a touchdown in the NFL and hit a home run in MLB within the same seven-day span. Furthermore, he is unique in having competed in both the World Series and the Super Bowl. Following his retirement from professional sports, Sanders, famously known as “Prime Time,” transitioned into a role as a television analyst before establishing himself as a football coach. He currently serves as the head coach of the University of Colorado’s football program.

Early Life and College

Deion Luwynn Sanders was born on August 9, 1967, in Fort Myers, Florida. His parents divorced during his early childhood, and his father, Mims Sanders, struggled with drug abuse throughout his life, passing away in 1993 due to a brain tumor. His mother, Connie, later remarried Willie Knight, who became Deion’s stepfather.

By the age of eight, Sanders was actively competing in organized baseball and football. At North Fort Myers High School, he earned all-state honors in football, baseball, and basketball. On the football field, Sanders excelled as both a cornerback and quarterback, while he demonstrated exceptional scoring ability on the basketball court. A particularly impressive game, in which he scored 30 points, led a friend to dub him “Prime Time,” a nickname that has endured.

Sanders chose to remain close to home for college, enrolling at Florida State University. There, he contributed to the baseball team’s advancement to the College World Series and the football team’s participation in the Sugar Bowl. Initially a two-sport athlete, he eventually left basketball to focus on football and baseball but later joined the track team, helping it secure a conference championship.

By the end of his college career, Sanders had earned two-time football All-American honors, recorded 14 interceptions, and received the 1988 Jim Thorpe Award as the top defensive back. He was selected fifth overall by the Atlanta Falcons in the 1989 NFL Draft, with expectations that he would concentrate solely on football. However, “Neon Deion,” as he was also known, had grander ambitions that encompassed both sports.

Baseball Career

Deion Sanders began his professional baseball career with the New York Yankees, playing outfield for the franchise’s Triple-A team in Columbus, Ohio, during the summer of 1989. He made an impactful debut with the Yankees, hitting his first home run against the Seattle Mariners on September 5. That same week, following extensive contract negotiations, Sanders secured a four-year, $4.4 million deal with the Atlanta Falcons. Remarkably, just three days after signing the contract, he made headlines by returning his first punt for a touchdown, marking the unique achievement of being the only athlete to hit a home run and score a touchdown within a seven-day span.

Despite his accomplishments on the football field, Sanders faced challenges in baseball. His larger-than-life personality often clashed with the sport’s more traditional culture, leading to notable conflicts, including an on-field altercation with legendary catcher Carlton Fisk and a memorable incident where he poured ice water on broadcaster Tim McCarver in response to critical remarks. Sanders struggled at the plate during his time with the Yankees, finishing the 1990 season with a batting average of just .171, which resulted in his release from the team. He subsequently signed with the Atlanta Braves, where he experienced a resurgence, contributing to the team’s World Series appearance and batting .533 in the championship series. During the 1992 season, he achieved a .304 batting average with 14 stolen bases.

Sanders enjoyed his best season in 1997 with the Cincinnati Reds, achieving 127 hits and stealing 56 bases. After a brief hiatus from baseball, he returned to the Reds in 2001 for a final season, appearing in 32 games but finishing with a disappointing .173 batting average.

Football Career

In contrast to his baseball experience, Deion Sanders excelled in football. After five successful seasons with the Atlanta Falcons, he signed a one-year contract with the San Francisco 49ers in 1994. During his tenure with the 49ers, Sanders tied a franchise record with three interception returns for touchdowns, earned Defensive Player of the Year honors, and played a pivotal role in leading the team to a Super Bowl championship. This accomplishment solidified his status as the only athlete to have participated in both a World Series and a Super Bowl.

Sanders’ stay in San Francisco was brief; he signed a lucrative seven-year, $35 million contract with the Dallas Cowboys the following offseason. He replicated his success from the previous year by leading the Cowboys to another Super Bowl victory. Notably, Sanders made history during this season by playing both wide receiver and defensive back, a feat not accomplished by any NFL player in nearly four decades. He recorded 36 receptions for 475 yards that year.

While further championships eluded him, Sanders remained a formidable force on the field, consistently prompting opposing quarterbacks to avoid his coverage. After being released by the Cowboys in 2000, he signed with the Washington Redskins (now the Commanders), where he recorded four additional interceptions before retiring at the end of the season and transitioning to a career in broadcasting.

Television Personality and Analyst

Following his retirement from professional football, Sanders served as an analyst on CBS’ NFL Today pregame show for two seasons, showcasing his outspoken analysis and insights. However, when the network refused to meet his salary demands, he returned to the field, signing with the Baltimore Ravens, where he played for two more years and recorded five interceptions, bringing his career total to 53.

After concluding his playing career, Sanders transitioned back to television, spending 14 years as an analyst for the NFL Network, where he contributed to broadcasts of Thursday Night Football and various studio shows.

In 2008, he debuted a reality show titled Deion & Pilar: Prime Time Love, which followed his life with his second wife, Pilar, and their children in Texas. The show aired for one season on the Oxygen network.

Coaching Career: Jackson State and Colorado

Deion Sanders transitioned from an illustrious NFL career to coaching while also serving as a television analyst. In 2012, he began his coaching journey by joining the staff for the annual Under Armour All-America Game, showcasing some of the top high school football recruits in the country. By 2017, he was appointed as the offensive coordinator at Trinity Christian-Cedar Hill, a Dallas-area high school attended by his sons, Shilo and Shedeur. Under Sanders’ guidance, the Tigers secured three consecutive Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools titles and achieved a remarkable record of 42 wins and 3 losses.

In 2020, Jackson State University, recognized as one of the premier HBCU football programs, appointed Sanders as its head football coach. His debut took place on February 21, 2021, during a spring season affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The game ended in a dominant 53-0 victory over Edward Waters, elevating the team’s national profile. The following season, Sanders was honored as the FCS National Coach of the Year, leading Jackson State to an impressive 11-win season, a conference championship, and a trip to the Celebration Bowl. Notably, Shedeur Sanders served as the team’s quarterback, throwing for 30 touchdowns.

After a successful 12-win season in 2022, Sanders transitioned to the NCAA Bowl Subdivision when he was named the head coach at the University of Colorado in December. The Buffaloes were recovering from a challenging one-win season, and athletic officials hoped Sanders would revitalize the program. In his introductory address, he stated, “This is my job, and my occupation and my business, and my dream to bring you back to where you know you should belong. All you want is an opportunity to win, to compete, to dominate… and darn it, I’m going to give you that.” Following his hiring, more than 50 players from Colorado entered the transfer portal as Sanders restructured the team. Many of his players from Jackson State, including his sons, Shilo and Shedeur, joined him in Boulder. The overhaul yielded immediate results, with Colorado starting the 2023 season with a notable upset victory over ranked TCU, followed by two additional wins. Sanders and his team garnered significant media attention, featuring on the season premiere of CBS’s 60 Minutes and in a profile in Time Magazine.

Despite this strong start, Colorado faced challenges as the season progressed, losing eight of its last nine games to finish with a 4-8 record. Nonetheless, Sanders’ influence on the program and the broader landscape of college football earned him the title of 2023 Sportsperson of the Year from Sports Illustrated. The first season of the Amazon Prime docuseries Coach Prime chronicles Sanders’ inaugural year leading the Buffaloes.

Personal Life: Relationships and Family

Deion Sanders has been married twice and shares five children with his former spouses. He married Carolyn Chambers in 1989, and they welcomed two children: a daughter, Deiondra, born in April 1992, and a son, Deion Jr., born in December 1993. Deion Jr. played three seasons of college football at Southern Methodist University and launched a clothing line, Well Off, in 2016.

After their divorce in 1998, Sanders married actress Pilar Biggers in 1999, and they had three children: sons Shilo and Shedeur, born in February 2000 and February 2002, respectively, and a daughter, Shelomi, born in December 2003. The couple divorced a decade later. Shilo was initially offered a football scholarship to Florida State University, his father’s alma mater, but chose to play for the University of South Carolina for two seasons. He later followed his father to both Jackson State and Colorado. Shedeur currently serves as the starting quarterback at Colorado, while Shelomi, a talented basketball player, transferred to Colorado after playing one season at Jackson State.

In 2012, Sanders met Tracey Edmonds, a producer and former TV journalist, at a film premiere. The couple became engaged in February 2019 but announced the end of their engagement in December 2023. They emphasized their decision to move forward as friends, expressing mutual respect and appreciation for their time together.

A devout Christian, Sanders has relied on his faith following a suicide attempt in 1997. Amid the dissolution of his first marriage, he drove his car off an embankment while playing for the Cincinnati Reds. Remarkably, he emerged from the incident unscathed. Reflecting on the experience, Sanders noted, “I ran the car off the cliff, and it was like a 40-, 30-foot drop. The car went down and hit, and there wasn’t a scratch on me or the car. I was just empty. I tried cars, jewelry, clothes, women, money. Everything. Nothing could fulfill me.”

Deion Sanders’ Net Worth

According to Celebrity Net Worth, Deion Sanders earned approximately $59 million during his professional athletic career and currently earns nearly $6 million annually at the University of Colorado. His total net worth is estimated at $45 million.