Marshall Faulk offers lofty praise for Deion Sanders' coaching ability: 'He's an elevator'

Late Thursday night, following the NFL Honors ceremony, Deion Sanders and Colorado announced Marshall Faulk would be joining the coaching staff. He adds a third gold jacket to the Buffaloes’ sidelines, and had some lofty praise for Coach Prime, as well.

Faulk spoke with Front Office Sports from Radio Row at Super Bowl LIX Thursday afternoon – before Colorado announced his hiring. He didn’t indicate he was joining Sanders’ staff in Boulder, but still explained his fellow Hall of Famer’s strengths as a coach.

Faulk pointed out Sanders’ impact on others, whether it’s on or off the football field. Coach Prime has said his job as a coach is to help his players get better as players and as people, and Faulk sees it happening.

Deion Sanders has hired fellow NFL Hall of Famer Marshall Faulk as Colorado's new running backs coach.

Faulk told FOS his thoughts on Coach Prime: pic.twitter.com/dmgHYiFmch

— Front Office Sports (@FOS) February 7, 2025

“Deion, he’s an elevator,” Faulk said. “He’s going to elevate you as a person, and he’s going to force you to elevate your life. That’s what he does. He lifts people up.

“A lot of the times, the light may look like it’s shining on him. But really, he’s shining a light on somebody. Pay attention to what he does.”

What Marshall Faulk brings to Deion Sanders’ staff

Faulk has never coached at the collegiate level, meaning Colorado will be his first opportunity. He previously worked as an analyst at NFL Network alongside Sanders following his retirement in 2005.

Faulk rose to stardom at San Diego State, where he put together a College Football Hall of Fame career with the Aztecs. A three-time First Team All-WAC selection and two-time unanimous All-American, he was in the top three of the Heisman Trophy voting all three seasons and was the runner-up to Gino Torretta as a junior.

The Colts then selected Faulk No. 2 overall in the 1994 NFL Draft, and he won the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year award in 1994. That year, he ran for 1,282 yards and 11 touchdowns to lead the Indianapolis backfield.

Faulk played for the Colts until 1999 when he was traded to the Rams. He was part of the Super Bowl XXXIV team, known as “The Greatest Show on Turf,” and was a three-time First Team All-Pro selection in St. Louis. He also won the 2000 NFL MVP award.

All told, during his decorated career, Faulk was a three-time NFL Offensive Player of the Year and a seven-time Pro Bowler while leading the league in rushing yards in 2000 and in scoring twice. A member of the St. Louis Ring of Fame and the Colts Ring of Honor, he became a first-ballot Hall of Famer in 2011.