Deion Sanders’ immediate success with the Colorado Buffaloes could pave the way for him to make the jump to the NFL in the not-do-distant future, multiple league executives believe.
After three years at Jackson State, “Prime Time” accepted a lucrative offer from the University of Colorado to take over the Buffaloes’ football program. The Buffs won just a single game last year, but Sanders has them sitting pretty at 3-0 entering this week’s game against the Oregon Ducks.
Jeff Howe of The Athletic spoke to 10 NFL executives to get their takes on the possibility of Sanders getting consideration for an NFL coaching position. Seven of the execs “predicted Sanders would receive interview requests for the offseason head-coaching hiring cycle,” Howe wrote.
One executive told Howe that they’d be keen on interviewing Sanders, noting his success in motivating and scouting players:
“I’d definitely want to bring him in to hear what he has to say. He’s a smart guy and a good coach who has had a lot of early success. You’d want to pick his brain to see if it could translate. He knows how to motivate his players. He’s crushed the transfer portal, and maybe that would carry over into team building through free agency.”
Another executive offered a similar take on the Pro Football Hall of Famer:
“He clearly has a plan to develop young men. It’s worked to this point. He has no issue putting people in position to do what they do best, doesn’t seem to micromanage and knows his strengths.”
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One league GM praised Sanders’ leadership and energy, adding that one should “at least” speak to the two-time Super Bowl champion:
“I love the energy he creates, and his players respond to it. I would think you have to at least sit down and talk with him. He’s a leader, smart, a great marketer and has the (credibility) as a player and now adding to it as a coach.”
Sanders is unquestionably building something special in Colorado, but only he truly knows deep down if he’d want to leave the Buffaloes immediately for an NFL head coaching position before finishing what he started in Boulder.
At any rate, all Sanders-to-the-NFL rumors and speculation are for another day. Right now, Prime Time and his players are entirely focused on continuing the Buffaloes’ incredible Cinderella story.
