Colorado head coach Deion Sanders is currently away from the team as he deals with an unspecified health issue, casting uncertainty over his return just as the Buffaloes gear up for a crucial new chapter.
With the absence of his star quarterback son, Shedeur Sanders, for the first time, Coach Prime’s latest battle adds a layer of suspense to Colorado’s upcoming season.
Coach Prime Faces Health Setback Ahead of Pivotal Season at Colorado
Sanders, 57, has been resting at his estate in Canyon, Texas, while his team began summer workouts last week. According to USA Today, this health-related leave of absence comes despite his contractual obligation to oversee these workouts, suggesting Colorado athletic director Rick George likely issued an exception.
Colorado football coach Deion Sanders has been ill and away from the team recently, a source confirmed to @CFBHeather on Tuesday.
USA Today was first to report the news. https://t.co/Uz0PvtHXY0
— ESPN (@espn) June 10, 2025
His eldest son, Deion Sanders Jr., appeared in a YouTube livestream from their Texas home on Sunday and updated fans on his father’s condition.
“He’ll tell y’all soon enough what he’s going through, what he went through,” Deion Jr. said. “When we get back in Boulder, I don’t know. I’m waiting until my dad leaves. When he leaves, then I’ll go. Until then, I’m gonna sit here with him.”
Sanders first hinted at the health issue in May while on a podcast with former NFL cornerback Asante Samuel. Sanders responded to the well-wishes he was receiving, said he lost around 14 pounds, and described his ailment as “a whole ‘nother level.”
This isn’t the first time health has sidelined Sanders. In 2022, Sanders had two toes removed from his left foot due to a blood clot in the femoral artery. He later underwent more surgeries to address blood clots in his legs and missed Pac-12 media day. These recurring circulatory issues have raised ongoing concerns about his long-term well-being.
His latest setback forced him to cancel a scheduled keynote speech at the Sickle Cell Disease Research and Educational Symposium in Florida. In a statement on X, the organization said: “Due to an unavoidable last-minute scheduling change, our originally scheduled Foundation Keynote Speaker, Deion Sanders ‘Coach Prime,’ is unable to attend.”
Publicly, Sanders was last seen at an NFL Draft party in April for his son Shedeur, who unexpectedly slid to the fifth round.
Reflecting on criticism surrounding that fall, Sanders posted a message on X: “The Truth may not be as popular as a lie but the Truth wins in the end.”
As Colorado prepares to open its season on August 29 against Georgia Tech, the absence of both Sanders and his quarterback son casts a shadow over the team’s preparations. While his son assures fans that Coach Prime is “feeling well,” the uncertainty surrounding his health leaves a significant question mark over how and when he will rejoin the program.
