Sports
Deion Sanders stood on the sideline at Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth, visibly grimacing with every step. The 57-year-old head coach, known for his relentless energy and charisma, looked like a man trying to outrun his own body.
By the end of Colorado‘s 35-21 loss to TCU, the truth could no longer be hidden.
Deion Coach Prime Sanders shows publicly he will make a major move in Colorado
“I think I got more blood clots, cat’s out the bag, alright,” Sanders admitted afterward. “It don’t make sense. I’m hurting like crazy.”
The man who rebuilt Colorado football’s national relevance with little more than swagger and faith now faces a health battle that could threaten his coaching career.
Sanders said he plans to see a doctor on Monday. During Saturday’s game, he coached portions of the contest with only one shoe, favoring his left leg as pain visibly increased. The image, powerful and unsettling, reminded fans that this isn’t the first time his health has been in jeopardy.
A battle that never really ended
Sanders’ fight with circulation issues began years ago and has never fully subsided. He underwent multiple surgeries in 2021, ultimately losing two toes to amputation while coaching at Jackson State. More procedures followed in 2023. Then, earlier this year, he underwent another life-altering operation to remove his bladder due to cancer.
Even for someone who built a career on toughness and perseverance, the toll has been immense. His body, once synonymous with speed and style, has forced him into a slower, more painful rhythm.
Yet Sanders has continued to show up for his players, his staff, and a program that feeds off his energy. Every practice, every sideline moment, carries the weight of someone trying to lead through adversity. But after Saturday night, it’s clear that determination might not be enough.
Behind closed doors, Colorado’s athletic department is preparing for the possibility that Sanders might have to step back, at least temporarily. That conversation, once unthinkable, now feels necessary.
The inevitable question: who could take over?
Few coaches could fill the gravitational pull Sanders brings to Colorado, but athletic officials and insiders are already debating realistic scenarios should the program need to move forward without him.
One name often mentioned is Jon Sumrall, the 43-year-old Tulane head coach who built powerhouse defenses at Troy before turning the Green Wave into a rising Group of Five contender. His teams win with physicality and preparation.
Jamey Chadwell, currently at Liberty, represents another philosophy altogether. His up-tempo offensive systems and track record at Coastal Carolina made him a national name in 2020. If Colorado wanted a stylistic continuation of the energy Sanders brought, Chadwell’s offensive creativity could fit the bill.
Others see Eric Morris as a developer of talent rather than a rebuild specialist. A former Texas Tech assistant who once coached Patrick Mahomes, Morris has a reputation for unlocking potential – exactly what Colorado would need in a transitional phase.
Younger, riskier options like Brennan Marion, architect of the “Go-Go Offense,” or more seasoned leaders such as Iowa State’s Matt Campbell, would represent very different roads forward.
This news was originally published on this post .
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