On Wednesday, NFL legend and Colorado head coach Deion Sanders made a surprise visit to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ training camp. Sanders was present to watch his son, rookie safety Shilo Sanders, take the field for the first time in a Buccaneers uniform.
After practice, Bucs head coach Todd Bowles addressed the excitement surrounding Sanders’ visit.
Bucs HC Todd Bowles Gets Blunt About Deion Sanders’ Training Camp Visit
While speaking with reporters, Bowles shared his thoughts on the high-profile visit.
“It was a normal day for me,” Bowles said when asked about Deion’s presence. “As far as I’m concerned, it’s a father coming to see his son, like all of us would be doing.”
Shilo, 25, signed with Tampa Bay as an undrafted free agent following the 2025 NFL Draft. He garnered attention not only for his performance on the field but also because of his father’s renowned reputation.
Throughout his six-year college career, Shilo played for South Carolina, Jackson State, and Colorado. In his final year with the Buffaloes, he recorded 67 tackles (45 solo), two tackles for loss, two pass breakups, two fumble recoveries, one sack, and one forced fumble.
Known for his physicality and instincts in the box, Sanders joins a crowded safety room led by All-Pro Antoine Winfield Jr. He’ll be competing for early playing time with the likes of Tykee Smith (who is converting to safety from nickel cornerback), Christian Izien, Kaevon Merriweather, and Marcus Banks.
Despite entering training camp as a long shot to crack the rotation, Sanders has impressed coaches with his vocal leadership and work ethic. He’s also made headlines for his off-field maturity, earning praise for his positive attitude and willingness to learn from veterans.
#Bucs S Shilo Sanders is loud, but his play speaks for itself, too. Here is Sanders tracking the ball and coming down with it. pic.twitter.com/Ehda78SHpe
— PewterReport 🏴☠️ (@PewterReport) May 10, 2025
The elder Sanders, currently head coach at the University of Colorado, has been a vocal supporter of his sons’ football careers.
His appearance at Buccaneers training camp added a layer of excitement to Day 1, with cameras capturing his interactions with players and staff.
Coach Prime checking in on our guy Shilo Sanders 🌴@DeionSanders x @ShiloSanders pic.twitter.com/qLGq1au9uK
— Colorado Buffaloes Football (@CUBuffsFootball) July 23, 2025
While Deion’s visit to Tampa Bay was brief, it held significant meaning, as the Hall of Famer honored his promise to support his son Shilo on the first day of training camp. With Colorado’s fall camp set to begin July 28 and his other son, Shedeur, competing for the starting QB job with the Cleveland Browns, Sanders is expected to head to Ohio next.
The Browns will open their training camp Friday, July 25, giving Coach Prime a narrow window to see both of his sons in action before returning to Boulder to prepare for the Buffaloes’ season opener on August 29.
