Deion Sanders, the charismatic head coach of the Colorado Buffaloes, shocked the sports world on Monday with a candid revelation about his recent battle with bladder cancer. Sanders disclosed that he underwent surgery to remove his bladder due to a tumor, and thankfully, he’s now been declared cancer-free by his doctors.
This revelation provided clarity on the speculations regarding Sanders’ health earlier in the year, especially after he had to step away from football camps during the spring. Despite the severity of his health scare, Sanders, at 57, assured fans and followers that he’s gearing up to return to the sidelines with the Buffaloes this season.
In a heart-to-heart during the press conference, Sanders shared that he kept this battle a secret from his sons, Shilo and Shedeur Sanders, who are both carving out their own paths in the NFL. “My sons to this day don’t know what transpired,” Sanders confessed. He had assured them that his absence was due to foot issues, wanting them to focus on making their respective teams rather than worrying about his health.
On the topic of the Sanders family in the NFL, Shedeur was drafted in the fifth round by the Cleveland Browns, while his brother Shilo signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent. As they both navigate the rigorous journey toward securing their spots in the league, Shilo is vying for one of the final roster spots in Tampa, and Shedeur is in the mix for Cleveland’s starting quarterback role alongside seasoned players like Joe Flacco and promising newcomers like Kenny Pickett and Dillon Gabriel.
Coach Prime, as Sanders is affectionately known, had the unique opportunity to coach his sons at Jackson State before bringing his dynamic leadership and signature flair to Colorado. His tenure has been marked by a noteworthy turnaround; after a 4-8 record in 2023, the Buffaloes rallied to finish 9-4 in 2024.
Looking ahead, Sanders and his Buffaloes are poised to usher in a new season beginning with a matchup against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets on August 29th at 8:00 p.m. EST. The team will then face the Delaware Blue Hens, wrapping up their brief two-game homestand. Fans can anticipate an exciting season as the Buffaloes embark on their journey in this new era, all under the watchful and determined eyes of their resilient head coach.
