Colorado coach Deion Sanders has made a huge impact in the college football scene, leading his team to two impressive wins over TCU and Nebraska. The former NFL star, who is also known as Coach Prime, has drawn attention from fans and media alike for his charismatic and motivational style of coaching. However, he has no plans to leave the college ranks for the NFL, even if he gets an offer.
Sanders loves the impressionable nature of college players
In an interview with Rich Eisen on Friday, Sanders explained why he would never coach in the NFL, saying that he loves working with young men who are still eager to learn and improve. He said that he would have a hard time motivating players who make millions of dollars and are less receptive to his message.
“I would never do that,” Sanders said. “I love college. I love that the young men are still impressionable. They’re not so financially wealthy that they can’t hear you. At the next level, some of these guys make so much money they can’t hear. They can’t hear or they can’t see the things that they need to see and hear. I would have a hard time motivating a man that makes upwards of 20 and 30 and sometimes 40 million dollars to go out there and do your job. I got a problem with that.”
Sanders also joked that he would be too harsh on NFL players who make mistakes, saying that he would start with 53 players and come out of the locker room at halftime with about 38.
Sanders has proven his coaching skills at Colorado
Sanders took over as the head coach of Colorado in January 2023, after spending three seasons at Jackson State, where he led the team to a 21-6 record and two conference titles. He brought his passion, energy and expertise to Colorado, where he quickly transformed the culture and performance of the program.
In his first two games, Sanders guided Colorado to a 31-28 win over TCU and a 42-35 win over Nebraska, both on the road. He became the first Colorado coach to win his first two games since Bill McCartney in 1982. He also became the first Colorado coach to beat two Power Five opponents in his first two games since Fred Folsom in 1895.
Sanders has also attracted some of the top recruits in the nation to Colorado, including five-star wide receiver Micah Hudson, who committed to the Buffaloes on Wednesday. He has also helped his players secure lucrative NIL deals, such as his partnership with sunglasses brand Prime Shades.
Sanders is a Hall of Famer as a player
Before becoming a coach, Sanders was one of the best players in NFL history. He played 14 seasons in the league, mostly with the Atlanta Falcons, San Francisco 49ers and Dallas Cowboys. He was an eight-time Pro Bowler, a six-time All-Pro, a two-time Super Bowl champion and the 1994 Defensive Player of the Year. He was also a dynamic returner and occasionally played offense as a wide receiver.
Sanders was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2011. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest cornerbacks and athletes of all time. He also played professional baseball for nine seasons, becoming one of the few athletes to play in both the Super Bowl and the World Series.