Retiring a jersey number is one of the highest honors a college football program can ever give a player — and it’s not taken lightly, especially with limited numbers available under strict NCAA rules.
On Monday, the University of Colorado announced it will retire Nos. 2 and 12 to honor Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter for their immense impact on the program. The move sparked debate online, with reactions ranging from praise to criticism.
One notable voice was former NFL offensive tackle David Bakhtiari, who didn’t hold back his disapproval of the decision.
David Bakhtiari Against Shedeur Sanders’ Number Being Retired at Colorado
Colorado has been one of the most talked-about programs in college football over the past two years, thanks to the arrival of Deion Sanders as head coach — and the on-field presence of his son, the team’s quarterback, along with Hunter, a two-way star.
While the team didn’t win a conference title or make a major bowl appearance, it’s hard to deny the cultural and media impact the trio brought to Boulder, Colo. The program experienced a complete transformation in exposure and relevance. The Buffaloes became a headline machine throughout the college football landscape.
However, many fans pushed back on Colorado’s decision, especially when it comes to Sanders. While his arrival certainly brought excitement and attention to the program, some argue he wasn’t exactly a game-changer in terms of the school’s football legacy.
Sanders didn’t deliver a national championship, and he likely won’t be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Most of the buzz, critics say, revolved around Hunter. The two-way player was widely seen as the true star — a rare “unicorn” talent who played both offense and defense at an elite level. Bakhtiari, a former NFL offensive tackle, voiced his frustration on X, making it clear he didn’t agree with Colorado’s decision to retire the numbers.
“Y’all trying to be slick thinking you can just sneak that one in there,” he commented.
For context:
Deon Figures, CB
(who also wore #2 for CU) resume:
-1990 national champion
-Jim Thorpe award winner
-Jack Tatum award
-consensus all American
-big 8 def player of the year
-1st round pick
-6 year NFL career
-college football Hall of fame. https://t.co/ckNW1jI7bR— David Bakhtiari (@DavidBakhtiari) April 15, 2025
Bakhtiari went on to explain that retiring Sanders’ number after just two solid seasons didn’t make much sense to him — especially when compared to someone like Deon Figures, a former Colorado cornerback who wore the same No. 2 jersey and had a far greater on-field impact and individual accolades during his time with the program.
Sanders totaled 64 passing touchdowns, 13 interceptions, and 7,364 passing yards over 24 games at Colorado. He finished with a 13-11 record as a starter. His lone individual accolade was being named the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year in 2024. That résumé included a loss to BYU in the Alamo Bowl so while he enjoyed a respectable run, it was far from the historic impact typically associated with retired numbers.
Either way, Colorado chose to honor a unique moment in its history. It was a time when the entire country tuned in to watch a program led by a famous father-son duo on a team that featured a Heisman-winning phenom in Hunter. While the on-field legacy may not fully justify the jersey retirements, the cultural impact off the field is undeniable.