Deion Sanders shares what Nick Saban has taught him in coaching

Colorado head coach Deion Sanders and Alabama head coach Nick Saban share screen time in commercials. More than that, though, there is a mutual respect between the two coaches that both have spoken about.

In their relationship, Sanders says there are several things that Saban has taught him about running a program.

“Identifying personnel,” Deion Sanders told Taylor Rooks. “Coaching-wise, understanding the different, not leagues but the different conferences. Understanding all that language and how this stuff works and why this school is going to that conference or that school is going to that conference, and always being prepared for what’s next.”

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“Because there’s no one who’s lost more coaches to the next level than he has, but it keeps on ticking. Why? Because he’s the engine. He is it.”

Sanders went on to explain that oftentimes it’s while shooting a commercial that Saban will give him advice or a bit of insight.

“So, just little things that he may whisper in between takes when we’re shooting an Aflac commercial. They’re sacred to me because he is him, and I respect the heck out of him.”

Sanders elected not to share anything specific that Saban has shared with him, saying that he couldn’t “recollect right now.”

Nick Saban has been the head coach at Alabama since 2007. In that time, he’s won six national championships. Prior to that, he had a stint in the NFL and was the head coach at LSU, Michigan State, and Toledo. While with LSU, he won another national championship. For Sanders and many other coaches, Saban is worth tons of respect for what he’s accomplished in his career.

“He is the grand marshal. He is the magna cum laude to me. I respect him so darn much. I really do.”

Bruce Feldman on Deion Sanders as a possible Nick Saban replacement

The reality for Nick Saban is that he can’t coach forever. Because of that, rumors of his retirement and debates about who should replace him are out there. One person who insider Bruce Feldman thinks could possibly replace Saban is Deion Sanders.

“Deion Sanders is probably the one guy who is in the country that would probably be like, ‘Yeah, I’ll replace him.’ I’m not saying that’s definite, but it wouldn’t entirely shock me. I think the question is going to be, Colorado is going to the Big 12, it has much more stability now than it felt like it did when he was hired there, but again, the Big 12 money is not going to be what the SEC or the Big Ten money is,” Feldman said.

“I think because of how the transfer portal is set up, he can reshape a roster in much more profound fashion than he could if he was an NFL head coach, where you don’t get — the old line used to be, ‘You can have 25 first round picks in college.’ That was pre-portal. Now, you can have way more first round picks because you’re not limited to that. So, I don’t know. It seems like he’s doing really well as a college coach.”