Deion Sanders can be a controversial figure because he doesn’t shy away from who he is. Some people admire that trait, and others get annoyed and tired of it.
NFL legend Terrell Owens is backing Sanders on a decision he’s made at Colorado that has many fans unhappy.
The Buffaloes’ head coach has allowed his players to replace their last names with their Instagram handles on the backs of their jerseys during his stint in Boulder. Some are very against it, but not Owens.
Terrell Owens Backs Deion Sanders’ Jersey Decision at Colorado
Dov Kleiman recently posted a video of a Colorado player with his Instagram username on the back of his jersey, sparking conversation about Sanders allowing his players to use their social media handles rather than their last names on the back of their jerseys.
𝗧𝗥𝗘𝗡𝗗𝗜𝗡𝗚: The Colorado Football team is going viral for allowing its players to have their Instagram handles on the backs of their jerseys.
Coach Prime is facing heavy criticism for allowing it.
😬😬😬 pic.twitter.com/ffxAMQiFaO
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) September 3, 2026
However, while many fans voiced their displeasure with Sanders’ decision, Owens defended the head coach.
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“This is OLD news. Tell me and SHOW me the PEOPLE that are mad and it will give you the reason why,” Owens wrote on X.
This is OLD news. Tell me and SHOW me the PEOPLE that are mad and it will give you the reason why. https://t.co/hjoKd1K3th
— Terrell Owens (@terrellowens) September 3, 2026
Kleiman posted the clip Thursday, and the Buffaloes will kick off their 2026 season Thursday against Georgia Tech. However, to Owens’ point, this isn’t the first time Sanders has allowed his players to make this decision. Neither is this done in the regular season, just during practices.
Sanders allowed the same thing in 2023 and 2024, reflecting a mindset that collegiate athletes should be able to use their stage to build their brand as much as possible.
However, most comments on Owens’ post disagreed with the Hall of Famer and further criticized Sanders for the decision.
“Because it’s classless. Promoting IG isn’t the WHY you are getting to play football to cover your education and future. I disagree entirely with you on this one,” Sara Blake Cheek wrote, whose comment garnered the most engagement.
Whether you agree or disagree with Sanders’ decision, the reasoning behind it makes sense.
In the era of college sports we are currently in, athletes are their own brand, and NIL is only continuing to grow. Sanders is a big component of his players getting the notoriety they deserve, and in the current era, getting compensated for it.
So, if a player has their social media handle on the back of their jersey, it would make it easier for brands to reach out to them.
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Now, whether Sanders’ decision is the best way to pursue that philosophy is a matter of individual opinion.
As for Sanders and the Buffaloes, winning football games seems to be about the only way the critics will go away.
The Hall of Famer is 16-21 across his first three seasons in Colorado. In 2025, the Buffaloes ranked 80th in the nation offensively, according to PFN’s CFB Offense Impact Metric, and their defense ranked 77th, according to PFN’s CFB Defense Impact Metric.
