The father-and-son-like relationship between Deion Sanders and Travis Hunter is pretty evident, celebrated even. The bond was reiterated when Coach Prime attended the two-way star’s 2024 Heisman trophy ceremony. This precedent made Sanders’ absence at Hunter’s wedding all the more glaring. And fans started to ask questions.
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Coach Prime has promptly answered. And the reason behind his previously unexplained absence is pretty serious.
During his viral conversation with Asante Samuel, the NFL Hall of Famer hinted that “What I’m dealing with right now, it’s a whole other level,” suggesting that it is an ongoing health issue.
Deion has been dealing with a series of significant health challenges for some time now. Issues with blood circulation led to the formation of blood clots in his lower legs, ultimately resulting in the amputation of two toes on his left foot during his time at Jackson State. The surgeries and ongoing blood-related complications have kept him in a constant state of vigilance.
Given what we’ve learned from him in recent years, perhaps his controversial decision not to travel on the recruiting trail was also made out of health concerns rather than arrogance. His critics had mocked his decision at the time.
The former Atlanta Falcon also revealed that the current health issue has led to him losing body weight quite drastically. This has further fueled concerns and speculations surrounding the coach’s health. Although Deion didn’t share specifics in his conversation with Samuel, he acknowledged that his illness had been serious enough to keep him from talking to the media and away from the public eye.
“I haven’t talked to the media in so long… I lost 14 pounds. I am getting back. And I needed this, needed this exchange of energy,” added Prime about the conversation with Samuel. The chat between the two NFL legends was, in fact, reconciliatory.
After months of trading barbs across various social media platforms and podcasts, the two legends decided to amicably resolve their differences. The 57-year-old Sanders has now set a positive example for how disagreements in public discourse should be handled.
However, this in all likelihood is not an indicator that Deion will be humility personified in his coaching role. He’ll still be looking to exude some hubris with the Buffaloes in 2025.
Now that he’s successfully transformed Colorado’s program from an afterthought to a spectacle, Sanders’ next challenge will presumably lie in the postseason. As a play caller, he’s already managed to more than double his win total from 2023 to 2024, with a bowl game in the second season.
Year three is shaping up to be a make-or-break year for Sanders as a coach, as it will likely determine whether or not his current pace is sustainable. Throw in the fact that he’s now lost both of his cornerstone players in Shedeur Sanders and Hunter, there are plenty of question marks surrounding the football legend heading into next season.
Despite those concerns, however, the Buffaloes recently issued Sanders the ultimate sign of support. The head coach’s new contract extension will see him remain in Colorado for the next five years, with the program giving him a $54-million signal that they believe in him.
Having assembled one of the most decorated coaching staff members in the nation, Sanders appears to be building a system that will last, much to the chagrin of his naysayers. Colorado indeed looks keen to remain a ‘Prime-Time’ program for the foreseeable future.
