The Cleveland Browns have created a vacancy at the head coach position following the firing of two-time coach of the year Kevin Stefanski. The firing has sparked speculation in Cleveland, forcing fans to wonder if Deion Sanders could be the next man for the job in a shock move.
The NFL legend and current Colorado Buffaloes head coach has emerged as a possible candidate for the Browns’ head coaching position. Could Coach Prime be considering coaching his son, Shedeur Sanders, again, this time at the professional level?
Browns Insider Weighs In on Deion Sanders as Head Coach Candidate
Sanders has heard his name floated around as a possible candidate for the job, mostly because his son finished the season as the Browns’ starting quarterback. But is there any real substance to this rumor?
Browns insider Tony Rizzo weighed in on whether or not he expects Sanders to be in play for the role.
“I don’t think Coach Prime wants to come coach in the NFL.” Rizzo said on ESPN Cleveland’s radio show.
Rizzo quickly shared his opinion on why he does not believe Sanders will be in play for the Browns’ vacant head coach job. Sanders has expressed his love for coaching at the college level in the past, as it allows him to teach the game of football to many young minds as they prepare for the highest level of play. It also allowed him to coach his sons, Sheduer and Shilo, at the University of Colorado.
“He’s got health issues. I don’t think Deion’s the guy.” Rizzo continued, finishing his point about why he believes it is doubtful that Sanders gets into serious contention for the job.
Rizz does NOT think that Deion Sanders will be in play as the next Browns HC… pic.twitter.com/34paYtOoyz
— ESPN Cleveland (@ESPNCleveland) January 5, 2026
Rizzo went on to say that he believes the 19th full-time head coach in Browns history will be someone who has never been a head coach at the NFL level before.
Sanders’ ongoing health issues and his stated love for coaching at the NFL level make him an unlikely candidate for the job, but in the world of the NFL, no idea is too crazy. One player who would undoubtedly benefit from a possible hiring of the legendary cornerback is his son, Shedeur, who will more than likely be in contention for the Browns’ starting quarterback role again in 2026.
Sanders struggled as the Browns’ starter in 2025, but his ability to win games should not go unnoticed, no matter whether you believe wins are a QB stat or not. According to PFSN’s QB Impact metrics, Sanders finished the season with a score of 56.9, which ranked 46th out of 48 eligible quarterbacks: the only two lower were teammate Dillon Gabriel and Bengals QB Jake Browning.
Sanders undoubtedly had his moments as the Browns QB, and picking up three wins out of the total five that the Browns amassed this season is cause for optimism heading into 2026.
Could his father, Deion, be interested in the Browns’ head coach position to help further develop his son as the Browns quarterback for the foreseeable future? Rizzo says it’s doubtful that such a thing comes to fruition, but only time and Deion himself can give fans the answer.
