Deion Sanders extension: Colorado coach's new buyout totals revealed

Deion Sanders‘ new five-year, $54-million contract extension announced Friday includes buyout language that should keep the 57-year-old Colorado head coach in Boulder. At least, it appears that way for the foreseeable future.

Per language in the contract obtained by Sportico’s Eben Novy-Williams, any team that tries to hire “Coach Prime” away from Colorado prior to Dec. 31, 2025, would owe a $12 million buyout within 60 days of Sanders accepting another job. That buyout number drops to $10 million if he accepts another job prior to the end of the 2026 season.

From there, Sanders’ buyout becomes much more reasonable. It drops down to $6 million before the end of 2027, $4 million before the end of 2028, and $3 million before the end of the 2029, the final season of his new deal.

Here is Deion's buyout if he leaves Colorado. Old contract on the left, new contract on the right.

It will cost him more to leave now. pic.twitter.com/FaAjnMP31o

— Eben Novy-Williams (@novy_williams) March 28, 2025

Sanders’ newly-inked contract extension, with will pay him an average of $10.8 million over the length of the five-year deal, making him the fourth-highest-paid head coach in college football. He jumps ahead of Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian ($10.6 million) in average annual salary.

Sanders will earn $10 million in each of the first two seasons, $11 million in 2027-28, and finally $12 million in 2029, per Brian Howell of the Boulder Daily Camera. Coach Prime flirted with the Dallas Cowboys opening this past offseason, but it’s evident Sanders is committed to turning Colorado into a contender, and he’s being paid handsomely to get it done.

After the news broke, Colorado added a press release confirming the news. Buffaloes Athletic Director Rick George was exuberant in his statement, believing the sky is the limit for the program under Coach Prime’s leadership.

“Coach Prime has revolutionized college football and in doing so, has restored CU football to our rightful place as a national power,” said George, via the press release. “This extension not only recognizes Coach’s incredible accomplishments transforming our program on and off the field, it keeps him in Boulder to compete for conference and national championships in the years to come.”  

Additionally, Sanders made sure to comment, as well. He ended his statement with a hilarious tongue-in-cheek comment, but he realizes there’s work to be done, and Colorado is far from where it wants to be at the moment — on top of the college football world.

“I’m excited for the opportunity to continue building something special here at Colorado,” Sanders stated. “We’ve just scratched the surface of what this program can be. It’s not just about football; it’s about developing young men who are ready to take on the world.

“I’m committed to bringing greatness to this university, on and off the field. We’ve got work to do, and I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else but here, making history with these incredible players and this passionate fan base. Lastly, anybody got at least a five-bedroom home with acreage for sale?”

— On3’s Steve Samra contributed to this report.