Adam Schefter explains role Deion Sanders buyout could play in Dallas Cowboys pursuit of Colorado HC

If Jerry Jones wants to hire Colorado’s Deion Sanders as head coach of the Dallas Cowboys, he’s going to have to pay up.

Not only will Jones have to dish out top dollar for an NFL head coach contract for Sanders, but he would have to cover the cost of Coach Prime‘s buyout with the Buffaloes. Sanders’ buyout is $8 million. ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter isn’t convinced Jones would be thrilled about paying the buyout to hire Sanders.

"Kellen Moore is somebody that knows the Cowboys organization and everything tells you that he's in play for this job..

Jerry Jones could take a big swing and go get Deion Sanders..

The Cowboys are in no rush to make a decision"@AdamSchefter #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/1l0IG65bih

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) January 17, 2025

“If Jerry wants to take a big swing and go for Deion, go pay the buyout — which again, I don’t think he’d be thrilled about doing — there are ways to navigate that,” Schefter said Friday on The Pat McAfee Show. “Maybe he has Netflix partner up with him to help take some of the cost. Not that Jerry can’t afford it or anything. But I don’t think that $10 million buyout is completely insignificant in this particular occasion. … Deion’s always there. Jerry Knows where to find him, Deion knows where to find Jerry.”

Now, that buyout is significantly lower than before. When Sanders first took over in Boulder, his buyout was $15 million. That figure dropped to $10 million at the start of 2024 and down to $8 million on Jan. 1.

Of course, the big question is whether Sanders is ready to make the jump to Dallas, where he played five seasons and won a Super Bowl in 1995. Former ESPN reporter Ed Werder suggested Sanders “would almost certainly accept” an offer from Jones.

Report: Deion Sanders ‘would almost certainly accept’ Dallas Cowboys coaching job if offered

“Regarding Deion Sanders: I’m being told that he would almost certainly accept if Jerry Jones offers to make him the next Cowboys head coach,” Werder tweeted Thursday morning, “that those around him are encouraging him to pursue it and that Jones is enamored with the idea.”

For his part, Sanders admitted being intrigued by the conversation with Jones earlier this week. He did, however, double down on his desire to remain in Boulder.

“To hear from Jerry Jones is truly delightful, and it’s intriguing,” Sanders told Schefter Monday night. “I love Jerry and believe in Jerry. After you hang up, and process it, and think about it, it’s intriguing. But I love Boulder and everything there is about our team, the coaches, our student body and the community.”

Sanders, 57, previously said he didn’t plan on coaching in the NFL following his second season at Colorado. He helped engineer an impressive turnaround in Boulder this past year. Sanders guided the Buffaloes from a 4-8 record in 2023 to 9-4 in 2024. He also had the Heisman Trophy winner in Travis Hunter, as well as his son, top quarterback prospect Shedeur Sanders, leading the charge.

As of now, the Cowboys have interviews lined up with former New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh and Seattle Seahawks assistant head coach Leslie Frazier. Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore is expected to interview for the job as well.

On3’s Alex Byington contributed to this report.