Colorado is gearing up for a celebration at its April 19 spring game — but not everyone is on board with the party. The Buffaloes plan to retire the jersey numbers of quarterback Shedeur Sanders (No. 2) and two-way star Travis Hunter (No. 12), who both played two seasons with the team after transferring in from Jackson State with Deion Sanders in 2023. The move is meant to honor the duo’s impact on the program — but it’s sparking some serious pushback from former players who feel the decision sends the wrong message.
Among the most vocal critics is Colorado Hall of Famer and former Pittsburgh Steelers Pro Bowler Chad Brown. The linebacker, who starred at CU in the early 1990s and went on to have a 15-year NFL career, didn’t mince words about what the decision represents. In his view, the school is overlooking generations of contributions from players who built the foundation of Colorado football long before Sanders and Hunter arrived in Boulder.
Chad Brown Calls Out CU on Travis Hunter, Shedeur Sanders Jersey Retirements
Brown voiced his frustration on X, responding to a growing debate over the jersey retirement announcement. “If the players from the National Champ team have not received such an honor, by default, this action dismisses, diminishes & for a new generation of CU fans erases their greatness,” he wrote. “I would never minimize the impact of #2 or #12, they are amazing players. But this timing is poor.”
If the players from the National Champ team have not received such an honor, by default, this action dismisses, diminishes & for a new generation of CU fans erases their greatness. I would never minimize the impact of #2 or #12, they are amazing players. But this timing is poor. https://t.co/jprVdO0lhZ
— Chad Brown (@chadbrown94)
That 1990 national championship team, which Brown helped anchor, remains one of the greatest in school history — yet its stars have yet to see their numbers hoisted into official retirement. Brown, himself inducted into the CU Hall of Fame, never had his number retired after moving on to the NFL in 1993. For him and many others, the sudden recognition of players still early in their careers feels premature.
The blowback didn’t stop with Brown. His comments were part of a larger online discussion kicked off by Dr. Michael Jones, a Colorado alum and pastor, who penned a social media article titled “The Disrespect of History: A Legacy Betrayed.” In it, Jones called the jersey retirement “the most flagrant disrespect to the true legends who built CU football from the ground up.”
In response, author SharRon Jamison offered a counterpoint, tweeting, “How is the past being dismissed, diminished, or erased? And how does honoring newcomers diminish the contributions of others? The injustice is that very little was done to honor the other players. Minimizing the impact of #2 and #12 doesn’t invalidate the sacrifices of others.”
The university has only retired four numbers in its 135-year history — most recently Heisman winner Rashaan Salaam’s No. 19 in 1994. The additions of Sanders and Hunter would double that total. For some fans, it’s a sign of the program’s new era under Coach Prime. But for others, it’s a slight to those who wore the black and gold long before the cameras showed up.
Deion Sanders Defends Son From Jersey Retirement Criticism
Speaking with the media on April 17, Sanders shared that this is the first time he has seen a jersey retirement turned into a sore subject, before adding:
“If his last name wasn’t Sanders, we wouldn’t have this discussion. The only reason why we’re having this discussion is his last name is Sanders. That’s it. It’s been so many things accomplished at this university expeditiously. It’s been unbelievable. And I think we should be appreciative. We should be thankful.
We have a room full of wonderful people that covers us and I don’t know if you all were in this room two or three years ago. Some, I mean, very few. It’s a new day, we’re doing things a little different.”
Sanders added that his son does not care about the pushback, stating, “He don’t care. Let’s get this straight. He’s a Sanders. Travis don’t either. I don’t either. I think it’s a beautiful day, blessed day. These guys are thinking about the draft. They’re thinking about where they’re going to spend their career.”
