Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders and his program has been one of the major storylines of the college football season thus far.
Despite Colorado boasting a mere 4-5 record on the campaign, he’s returned the program back to national relevance after coming over from Jackson State.
Sanders’ son, Shedeur, has also had a role in the Buffaloes’ popularity level since joining his father in Boulder. It’s led to widespread speculation that the two could soon take their talents to the NFL for next season.
The older Sanders shot down that possibility in talking about whether his son will turn in his quarterback role in Colorado for the 2024 NFL Draft.
“Why would we when we’re having a great time here? When we appreciate and love where we are, it’s hard to look at somewhere else,” Sanders said, via on3.com.
The popularity the Sanders’ are enjoying in Colorado can’t go unnoticed. The younger Sanders has a Name Image Likeness (NIL) value at an estimated $4.6 million. As for Colorado’s head coach, he’s gained a reputation as one of the best in the business at the collegiate level.
A Pro Football Hall of Famer during his time in the NFL, Sanders doesn’t necessarily believe that his coaching would translate to the professional level.
“No. No. Not whatsoever. I don’t think I’m built for the NFL because I’m, too. I appreciate the game so much and I respect the game so much and what the game has consistently done for me for a multitude of years that when I see a guy getting paid millions and millions of dollars and he has no respect for the game and does not want to excel and exceed expectations in the game, I’m going to have a true problem.”
Deion Sanders on the Dan Patrick Show
Sanders’ disinterest in joining the professional ranks shouldn’t be considered too much of a surprise. He made it clear that his future was in college football after initially being hired by Colorado.
Would Deion Sanders actually turn down a prime NFL gig?
It was reported as recently as October that several NFL teams are expected to chase after Sanders following the 2023 season.
Meanwhile, Sportsnaut projected in our most-recent NFL mock draft that Shedeur Sanders will go No. 4 overall to the Denver Broncos. At the very least, the stud young quarterback is seen as a potential top-five pick.
Interest in the Sanders’ duo could end up being a packaged deal depending on how the draft and remainder of the NFL season plays out. That’s where it gets interesting for Deion.
The Chicago Bears, Las Vegas Raiders and New England Patriots are all potentially slated to select in the top-10 of the annual event. Each one could be looking for both a franchise quarterback and a new head coach. In particular, the Raiders fired Josh McDaniels ahead of Week 9 while benching starter Jimmy Garoppolo.
Whether the idea of heading to the bright lights of Sin City as the Raiders’ next head coach is something that would appeal to Sanders remains to be seen. But his “Primetime” nickname and mentality suggests that it might if Deion changes his tune.
All of this could be very premature. Sanders has been clear as it relates to his intention to continue coaching college football. None of that means things will change should an opportunity present itself that Sanders can’t turn down.
This is not the last we’ve heard of Deion Sanders heading to the NFL. Regardless of what he says, rumors will continue swirling on this front. That’s especially true with decision makers in key roles among the professional ranks continuing to show interest in the boisterous head coach.