Deion Sanders remains one of the biggest talking points around Colorado football as the Buffaloes prepare for the 2026 season. Critics have questioned the program’s direction, while his supporters point to the difficult circumstances surrounding his tenure.
This debate took a new turn recently after former NFL receiver Brandon Stokley publicly criticized Sanders. Colorado fans were quick to push back, turning the discussion into a heated exchange online.
Brandon Stokley’s Deion Sanders Criticism Draws Fierce Pushback
Two-time Super Bowl champion Stokley said he has changed his view of Deion Sanders and Colorado after the Buffaloes finished 3-9 in 2025. Speaking on Denver Sports “104.3,” Stokley said he initially embraced the excitement around Sanders’ hiring but has grown frustrated with what he sees as too much talk and too few results.
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“I’m not drinking the Kool-Aid anymore,” Stokley said. “I’m not. Sorry, I was hook, line, and sinker. I loved it when Deion was here when they hired him… That was awesome. The energy, the buzz, the excitement-that was fun… You know what wasn’t fun? Last year.
“And then you look at, oh, you’re paying him $10 million, but then you look at it’s just nonstop chatter, nonstop talk. I’m tired of it. You haven’t backed up anything. What have you backed up? And it’s just all spin. It’s like he just throws stuff out there.”
Stokley then turned to Shilo Sanders’ legal situation and objected to how Sanders has described the case involving his son.
Stokley added, “He’s trying to say Shilo won. Shilo didn’t win. Shilo owes $12 million. That’s not a win.”
Colorado supporters did not let those comments go unanswered. One fan suggested Stokley could be using Sanders to generate interest, writing on X, “I hope talking about Prime gets your engagement up.”
I hope talking about Prime gets your engagement up
— smoovelikethat. (@ImJust_SMOOVE) August 27, 2026
Another supporter took the criticism personally and wondered whether there was an older issue between the two sides: “Prime hurt Stokely personally at some point. Whether he ignored a handshake or something. Wonder what it was.”
Other fans focused on Sanders’ health while defending his record at Colorado. One wrote, “The man was literally fighting for his life! He was battling CANCER! And you’re talking about a losing season?! You were 1-11 before he got there!”
The man was literally fighting for his life! He was battling CANCER! And you’re talking about a losing season?! You were 1-11 before he got there!
— DontMoveToAtlanta (@Gentlemen_Alive) August 28, 2026
Another fan offered an even shorter response: “Shut up.”
Shut up
— Big Factz (@BigFactzU) August 27, 2026
A different supporter argued that Sanders inherited a difficult situation and deserved more context for the 2025 season.
The fan wrote, “He inherited a 1-11 roster, took it to 4 wins, then 9 wins in year 2. Year 3 was down, but because he was battling cancer and potentially fighting for his life. He couldn’t coach really at all last season. He had to take care of himself before he could be coach.”
The criticism of Stokley became more personal in another response, which read, “Washed up, attention seeking [expletive] Mike Evans & Brandon Stokley that no one listens to or cares about. Another awful take. Yawn.”
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Another fan questioned whether Stokley and other critics had earned the right to judge Colorado so harshly: “I swear it’s so funny to see fans or reporters of teams with such bad histories all of a sudden have the highest standards in the world.”
One final supporter defended Sanders by recalling Colorado’s struggles before his arrival: “I guess it’s a lot of fun than going 1-11, man, shut up! Deion can leave and make Colorado irrelevant again.”
I guess it’s a lot of fun than going 1-11 man shut up! Deon can leave and make Colorado irrelevant again https://t.co/RCAsbsGofe
— Staffo⚡️🤟🏽 (@Menace2sopsity) August 28, 2026
The debate comes days before Shilo Sanders’ federal bankruptcy trial over an $11.89 million judgment. The trial is scheduled for Aug. 31, while Deion Sanders must remain available to testify in the case.
