Deion Sanders, the legendary Super Bowl champion and NFL Hall of Famer, is making headlines once again, but this time not as a player, but as a coach.
As the head coach of the University of Colorado’s football team, Sanders, known affectionately as “Prime Time,” is transforming a struggling program and attributing his success both on and off the field to a higher power.
In a recent interview with CBS’ “60 Minutes,” the 56-year-old Sanders shared his enthusiasm for the Colorado Buffaloes football program, which achieved a remarkable 45-42 victory over TCU in its first game of the season. This remarkable turnaround came after the Buffaloes had managed to win just one game the previous season.
Sanders, who had previously revitalized the football program at Jackson State University in Mississippi before taking on the challenge in Colorado, believes that his path to success is divinely guided. He stated, “God wouldn’t relocate me to something that was successful. That doesn’t make sense, does it? He had to find the most disappointing and the most difficult task. And this is what it was. And this is what it is. And I love that.”
This sentiment echoes his remarks from last year when he accepted the position at Jackson State, stating, “I truly believe with all my heart and soul that God called me collect, and I had to accept the charges.”
After the Buffaloes’ unexpected win against the No. 17-ranked TCU, Sanders wasted no time giving credit to God for the outcome. In a post-game interview with Fox Sports, he exclaimed, “Thank you, Jesus. I’m so thankful right now,” with his quarterback son, Shedeur Sanders, also praising his father’s leadership.
Considering TCU’s recent national championship appearance and the Buffaloes’ long-standing absence from top 20 road victories since 2002, Sanders’ gratitude for the performance and God’s favor is entirely understandable. He commented, “This is a blessing. Everybody, Buff Nation who supported us and all the hood that had my back. I thank y’all. God, this is good.”
Wide receiver Travis Hunter, who had transferred from Jackson State University along with Sanders, played a pivotal role in Colorado’s victory over TCU. Sanders affectionately referred to him as his “other son.”
Sanders was unfazed by the skepticism and doubt from those who questioned him and his players, as he had anticipated such challenges. He affirmed, “We’re going to continuously be questioned because we do things that have never been done… and that makes people uncomfortable. When you sit up here and see a confident black man talking his talk, walking his walk, and coaching 75 percent African Americans in the locker room, that’s kinda threatening. We’re going to consistently do what we do. I’m here, and I ain’t going nowhere.”
For Sanders, faith plays a central role in his life, and he has openly shared his commitment to a faith-first lifestyle since a 2018 interview where he revealed a past suicide attempt that brought him closer to God. He emphasized, “I don’t believe you can be at your optimum without your faith. Sports is sports; it’s a game. My faith is everything. It’s the gas that propels the courage, the truth, keeps me going. It’s the wind, it’s the wings, it’s the air that pumps into my lungs that provokes me to live. Faith is everything.”
Deion “Prime Time” Sanders is not only achieving remarkable success as a football coach but is also using his platform to inspire others with his unwavering faith in God.
His journey from a celebrated NFL career to coaching shows the power of faith, determination, and the belief that even the most challenging tasks can be overcome with divine guidance.
