Shedeur Sanders was just 11 when his father Deion Sanders parted ways with his second wife Pilar Sanders in 2013. Shedeur had previously reminisced about having separate Thanksgiving dinners with each parent while growing up in a divided family. On the Christmas special episode of the 2Legendary Podcast, the Buffs star reflected on what it was like celebrating the festival after his parents’ split.
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The Colorado QB, who was on the show with his half-brother Deion Sanders Jr., shared how the presents from Deion — online purchases from Amazon — arrived without any gift wrapping.
“We didn’t even get the gifts wrapped up. Mom and Dad split up, and it was no more gifts wrapped up from Dad. It was straight brown boxes or whatever, just straight up. It came in the mail from Amazon,” said Shedeur.
Deion Jr. stepped in, explaining that the gifts were not wrapped because Coach Prime did not believe in Santa. Trying to make things lighter, he added that it was also because his dad wanted to let it be known that it was him getting the gifts for the family, not an old man from the North Pole.
“He wasn’t about to let anyone take credit for his hard work. We don’t even know him (Santa). So it was like, why would I let him take the credit? I did this my whole life every day. I’m the one getting y’all the gifts. Y’all need to be thankful for these gifts. Yeah, so I never believed in Santa,” Deion Jr. said.
Shedeur acknowledged that he did receive wrapped gifts from Deion during his early years. However, it was his mom, Pilar, who was “pushing that narrative,” he added.
This remark made Deion Jr. — Coach Prime’s eldest son with his first wife Colyn Chambers — reflect on how things were a lot different when he was young. Deion had learned from his mistakes and made amends in his second marriage, with Pilar.
“He [Deion Sanders] learned a lot of things he did wrong with us and did them right with y’all. But y’all also lived with him every day. So it was different. He’s not like a holiday spirit type of person,” added Deion Jr.
After celebrating Christmas with family, Shedeur will focus on the upcoming Alamo Bowl game between Colorado and the BYU Cougars on December 28. A win would be the best Christmas present he could share with his dad.
