Deion Sanders has made headlines yet again, as his Colorado Buffaloes football team is right in the mix for the College Football Playoff. On Tuesday night, the latest Playoff rankings release placed Colorado at No. 16, a remarkable feat for a program that has undergone a significant transformation since Sanders took over.
The legendary former NFL cornerback has orchestrated an impressive turnaround in Boulder, taking a team that finished 4-8 in 2023 and an even more dismal 1-11 the year prior to his arrival in 2022, and elevating it to one of the most competitive teams in the country.
Meanwhile, Sanders’ former NFL team, the Dallas Cowboys, finds itself in a dire situation. The Cowboys are 3-7 this season and are currently riding a five-game losing streak, with three of those losses coming by margins of four or more touchdowns. As the Cowboys struggle, rumors about potential changes at head coach have begun swirling, with Sanders’ name increasingly being mentioned as a possible candidate to replace the embattled Mike McCarthy.
Since embarking on his coaching career, Deion Sanders has often found himself at the center of NFL coaching rumors.
Although Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has not made any official statements regarding McCarthy’s future, it’s becoming clear that McCarthy’s job is in jeopardy unless the team can turn things around dramatically. Given Sanders’ iconic status as a former Cowboys player, speculation has been rampant that he could be a prime candidate to take over in Dallas.
This isn’t the first time Sanders has been linked to potential NFL coaching roles, and he has previously expressed a lack of interest in coaching at the professional level.
During a press conference on Tuesday, ahead of Colorado’s upcoming game against Kansas, Sanders was asked about the chatter regarding both NFL opportunities and other college jobs. Although he didn’t completely rule out a potential move to the NFL, Sanders made it clear that he’s quite content in Boulder.
“You’re going to talk like that with my AD in here? That’s so disrespectful,” Sanders joked when asked about the rumors, referring to Colorado’s Athletic Director being present. He added, “I’m happy where I am, man. I’m good. I got a kickstand down… I’m resting. I’m good. I’m happy. I’m excited. I’m enthusiastic about where I am. I love it here, I truly do.” His comments emphasized that, for now, he’s focused on Colorado and has no immediate plans to leave.
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Despite Sanders’ repeated insistence that he is happy at Colorado, the rumors and speculation have not died down. One of Sanders’ former teammates, Michael Irvin, added fuel to the fire during an appearance on Fox Sports’ “The Herd” with Colin Cowherd.
Irvin stated that he believes Sanders would consider taking the Cowboys job if the team were to draft his son, Shedeur Sanders, in next year’s NFL Draft. Shedeur, who has been thriving as Colorado’s quarterback, could be an appealing prospect for the Cowboys.
However, the timing of the NFL Draft, which takes place well after typical coaching changes are made, combined with the fact that Dallas has a franchise quarterback in Dak Prescott, who just started a four-year, $240 million contract, makes such a scenario seem highly complicated.
Deion Sanders’ stock as a head coach has never been higher than it is now. With Colorado in contention for a Big 12 title and a potential College Football Playoff berth, it’s no surprise that Sanders’ future has become a hot topic.
Much of his success can be attributed to key players like his son, Shedeur Sanders, and two-way superstar Travis Hunter, both of whom are expected to declare for the NFL Draft following this season. As such, there is an air of uncertainty about what the future holds for Sanders and the program he’s worked so hard to rebuild.
For now, Sanders remains focused on Colorado, expressing excitement about his current role and the direction in which he’s taken the Buffaloes.
However, as long as Sanders continues to achieve success at the collegiate level, there will always be speculation about whether he will eventually make the jump to the NFL, particularly with the allure of coaching his former team, the Cowboys.
For Colorado fans, the hope is that Coach Prime stays put, continuing to build on the momentum he’s created and keeping the Buffaloes in contention for national accolades.
