Deion Sanders has led Colorado since 2023, guiding the Buffaloes to a 16-21 record over his three seasons. He struggled in his first year at Colorado without Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter.
The Buffaloes dropped to 3-9 in the 2025 season, but Coach Prime didn’t give up on the program, making multiple offseason changes to ensure a successful 2026 season.
Deion Sanders’ Roadmap For Colorado Got Revealed After NFL Future Statement
Although the Buffaloes struggled in 2025, some, like college football analyst RJ Young, believe Sanders remains committed to Colorado, which has a 0.56% chance of making the 2026 College Football Playoff, according to PFSN.
“The man has had his health scares,” Young said (6:40). “You know what I’m saying? From the amputation to the cancer… And then you compound that with his kid being ridiculed not just by other media members, but by people that claim to know something about the NFL. Even having a kid that got his daddy’s iPad to go prank call the boy…”
“I could see why I probably wouldn’t want anything to do with that. I also think that he really, really wants to make the College Football Playoff Colorado if it’s the last thing he does.”
Sanders is currently under a five-year, $54 million contract extension with Colorado that runs through the 2029 season. Reports suggest that he would owe the school $10 million in liquidated damages if he leaves on or before Dec. 31, 2026.
That buyout will keep decreasing over time: $6 million before Dec. 31, 2027, $4 million before Dec. 31, 2028, and $3 million before Dec. 31, 2029.
There was once strong speculation that Sanders could make a return to the NFL as a head coach. That buzz followed his rapid turnaround of the Colorado program, which jumped from a 1-11 record in 2022 to a 9-4 finish in 2024. That season also marked the Buffaloes’ first full-season bowl appearance since 2016.
On ESPN’s First Take, Sanders said he would never coach in the NFL after how his son, Shedeur, was treated. “Not whatsoever. What transpired with my son last year? Ain’t no way in the world,” Coach Prime said.
Shedeur slid to the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft despite being projected as a first-round pick. He was the second quarterback selected by the Browns that year and finished his rookie season with a 3-4 record as a starter and was also selected to the Pro Bowl.
Deion was reportedly in discussions with Cowboys owner Jerry Jones in the last offseason before Dallas ultimately promoted offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer to head coach.
