Deion Sanders addresses 'freedom' of coaching Colorado without sons on roster

Deion Sanders knows he’ll be a different coach without either of his sons now on the team at Colorado.

During a Friday morning appearance on ESPN’s First Take in New Orleans ahead of Super Bowl LIX, Sanders spoke on the impact that the absences of Shedeur Sanders and Shilo Sanders would have on him and his job in Boulder. He doesn’t think he’ll necessarily be any better at it but does think it’ll help because he won’t naturally be checking in on his kids like he would be as opposed to the rest of his team.

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“It’s not that I would be a better coach,” Sanders said. “Now I think it’s a lot more freedom because I’m not playing two roles. I’m playing one singular role — just the best head coach of the Colorado Buffaloes I can be. I don’t have the aspect of worrying about a son now or sons. So I don’t have to, okay, I’m looking at him but I’m checking Shilo, I’m looking at him but I’m checking Shedeur. No, no, no. … Now, I’m really just loving on these other kids and just trying to be there for ’em in every aspect of life.

“I think it’s going to make me a better coach in that aspect.”

Next season will be Sanders’ first coaching without at least one of his sons on the roster. He began coaching as the offensive coordinator at Trinity Leadership School with Shedeur as his quarterback. He then took the head coaching job at Jackson State where he coached Shedeur as well as Shilo once he transferred in. Then, after two seasons there, they spent two more together at Colorado.

Now, though, both of those kids are trying to reach the next level while their dad, despite offseason rumors, will remain in college. Shedeur will be one of the first players off of the board in the 2025 NFL Draft come April. Shilo has been trying to improve his stock as well ahead of the draft this spring.

As for Coach Prime, he’s headed back to Boulder to coach his first team without a relative on the roster. Still, while it’s a whole new thing for him, it’s also a welcome one in his coaching career.

Deion Sanders’ first team meeting without Shedeur, Shilo: ‘Now I can just be a coach and not be a dad’

In a video from Well Off Media, Deion Sanders held the first team meeting for his next roster at Colorado. That team will not include several notable players and, namely, two of his sons in Shedeur Sanders and Shilo Sanders. That was a big change for him but is a welcome one for him moving forward in Boulder.

Coach Prime’s first team meeting as a Head Coach without Shedeur and Shilo:

“I’ve been praying about this day; Now I could just be a coach and not be a Dad.”

It’s a New Era.

🎥@DeionSandersJr pic.twitter.com/SsXsBkejz1

— GUCCE🦬🐦‍⬛ (@gucceCU) January 12, 2025

“It’s an honor and a privilege to be standing before you. It’s, uh – I can’t explain how happy and how thoughtful and thankful I am for this day. I’ve been praying about this day. I’ve been anticipating this day,” Sanders said. “You’ve got to understand this is emotional for me. This is the first day I’ve been up here without two knuckleheads in here.”

“This is the first day I’m coaching without my boys, which is a pleasure and an honor for me,” said Sanders. “So now I could just be a coach. I don’t have to be no dad and I likes that and I love that.”

It was actually so different for him that Sanders expected Shilo to be late or to miss the meeting.

“I’m looking back. Shilo told me I was going to get mad at him for not being in the meeting today knowing he not supposed to be in the meeting today,” joked Sanders.

Still, although his children aren’t players there, Sanders expects to love this next team like they are his own.

“I feel like I’m going to treat somebody in here or a multitude of y’all in here like you were sons because I love y’all just that much because you could’ve chosen anybody but you chose us and I feel like you chose me,” Sanders said.