Coach Prime Takes a Step Back—Health First, Football Second

According to multiple sources, Colorado’s head football coach, Deion Sanders, is battling an unspecified illness.

No timetable has been given for his return.

And let me just say this, from the depths of my heart and as a longtime admirer of everything he’s meant to the culture—I hope Coach Prime is OK.

Because Deion Sanders isn’t just another coach in a polo shirt. He’s not just a Hall of Famer. He’s not just the flashiest shutdown corner to ever put on cleats.

He’s a movement.

He’s a walking blueprint for swagger, discipline, and impact. A man who’s made Black excellence look effortless on the field, behind the mic, and in a headset.

But let me also say this—and please hear me when I say it:

Health is the one opponent none of us can juke.

It doesn’t matter how many accolades you’ve collected. It doesn’t matter if you’ve got gold jackets, endorsement deals, or a $54 million contract.

If your health isn’t right? None of it means a damn thing.

We’re talking about a man who’s already overcome more physically than most could stomach.

In 2022, he had two toes amputated after complications from blood clots.

In 2023, he had another procedure to relieve clots in both legs and missed Pac-12 Media Day.

Now here we are in 2025, hoping he can once again fight back from something that’s kept him off the sidelines and out of the spotlight.

His son, Deion Sanders Jr., said during a livestream that his father was “feeling well.”

That’s good news. Encouraging. But let’s not act like this isn’t serious.

Because when Prime Time cancels a keynote at a Sickle Cell Disease symposium — especially one in Florida, his home state—you know it’s more than just a scheduling conflict.

Now, let’s also remember who we’re talking about.

This is a man who changed not just what college football looks like, but who gets to lead it.

He didn’t just show up in Boulder—he put Colorado back on the map, brought ESPN cameras, celebrity guests, and sold-out merch, and had a 9-4 turnaround that had people talking national titles instead of moral victories.

He didn’t just make Travis Hunter a Heisman winner and elevate Shedeur into the first-round convo—he made those young men believe in themselves.

He created a program where Black kids see a Black man lead with confidence and accountability.

And now?

Now, he’s got to take a timeout from it all. And that’s OK.

Because while we love the soundbites, the shades, the pregame speeches, and the postgame clapbacks, this is where we need Prime the person, not the persona, to get the time, space, and grace he needs.

This isn’t about wins and losses.

This isn’t about next season.

This is about life. Full stop.

And if we’re going to root for Coach Prime on Saturdays, we damn sure better be praying for him now.

When the cameras are off, the pain is real, and the road to recovery isn’t always prime-time ready.

So to the Sanders family, to Buff Nation, and to all those who’ve been touched by this man’s purpose: Stay strong. Stay hopeful. And stay grateful that we get to witness a man this impactful in our lifetime.

Coach Prime may be down right now, but believe me, his legacy is still working overtime.