Deion Sanders enjoyed a successful 14-year career in the NFL, securing two Super Bowl victories before being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2011. Recently, he was joined by former Dallas Cowboys quarterback and current NFL analyst Troy Aikman on his show, “We Got Time Today,” available on Tubi. During their extensive discussion, they touched on the possibility of Sanders returning to professional football.
Despite his extensive experience in the league, Sanders expressed concerns about the current practice methods in the NFL, stating that they would deter him from coaching any of the 32 teams. “That’s the way we practiced,” he remarked. “I know it’s cute, but I couldn’t coach pro ball. The way they practice, the way they go about it, I couldn’t take it — as a man, and as a football enthusiast. I care about the game. … There’s no way I could allow that to happen on my watch. That would be tough.”
After retiring, Sanders transitioned into a media career but has recently focused on coaching at the collegiate level. Following a successful three-year stint at Jackson State, he took the head coaching position at the University of Colorado, where the Buffaloes showed improvement under his leadership in 2024. This success has led to speculation about a potential move to the NFL.
This isn’t the first time Sanders has dismissed the idea of coaching in the NFL. In a 2022 interview with “60 Minutes,” he stated, “I couldn’t coach pro ball. It’s not just about fame or money. It’s about the love of the game. The way things are done now, I couldn’t accept it. It would be hard for me to let that happen under my watch.”
In a recent appearance on “Good Morning America,” Sanders reiterated that he would only consider coaching in the NFL if it involved his sons.
Following the departure of head coach Mike McCarthy in January, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones confirmed he had spoken with Sanders during the search for a new head coach. Although the Cowboys ultimately hired Brian Schottenheimer, Aikman suggested that it would make sense for Sanders to take the helm. “I was asked a lot of questions about how do you think Deion would do?” Aikman recalled. “I said, ‘I think Deion would do great.’ There are a small handful of people that I know that I just simply would not bet against. And Deion is one of those handful of people. He’s proven it at every stop. He’d be successful in the NFL.”
Aikman also acknowledged that Sanders could have a more significant impact at the college level, emphasizing the different dynamics of coaching young men compared to professionals.
