Deion Sanders on son Shedeur's jersey retirement: 'If his last name wasn't Sanders, we wouldn't have this discussion'

Colorado football faced backlash earlier this week when it announced it would be retiring the jerseys of Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter. Colorado head coach Deion Sanders especially received criticism, with people claiming he was showing nepotism toward his son, Shedeur. On Thursday, Deion Sanders addressed the outside noise.

“If his last name wasn’t Sanders, we wouldn’t have this discussion,” Sanders said. “Only reason we’re having this discussion is because his last name is Sanders. That’s it. There have been so many things accomplished at this university, expeditiously, it’s been unbelievable. And I think we should be appreciative. We should be thankful.

“… There are a whole lot of things that are brighter in and better because someone stands on business and makes it that way. And he’s resilient when it comes to it being that way because everything we do is to improve everything for us.”

Shedeur Sanders’ accolades are certainly similar, if not better, compared to other players who have had their jerseys retired. Sanders boasts over 100 school records despite only spending two seasons at Colorado.

He owns the school’s single-season records for passing yards, completions, attempts, touchdowns, completion percentage and quarterback rating. Moreover, he boasts the 14th-most passing yards in NCAA Division I history.

In the 2024 campaign, Sanders tallied 4,134 passing yards, 37 touchdowns and four rushing scores while completing 74% of his pass attempts. For his efforts, he was named the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year and an AP Second-Team All-American. Additionally, he won the Johnny Unitas Award, annually given to the best QB in college football.

Sanders’ jaw-dropping statistics translated to the win column. Colorado posted a 9-4 record and were just one win shy of appearing in the Big 12 Championship game. Colorado’s success this past season is even more impressive considering the team’s 4-8 overall record in the 2023 season.

This isn’t the first time Deion Sanders has been accused of nepotism. When he first took over at Colorado, he made it clear that Shedeur would be the team’s starting quarterback.

Sanders’ matter-of-fact attitude frustrated some people who felt like the other QBs deserved an opportunity. However, Sanders’ decision to start Shedeur ultimately proved correct and the Buffaloes became one of the best success stories of last season.

Shedeur Sanders will have more opportunities at the next level to prove his jersey deserves to hang from Colorado’s rafters. Sanders is projected to be a Top-10 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.