Dan Orlovsky bucks trend, gives opposing NFL take on Deion Sanders, Shedeur Sanders

The speculation has been percolating for months, if not longer: what will Deion Sanders do when both his sons — Shedeur and Shilo Sanders, as well as superstar cornerback/receiver Travis Hunter — leave for the NFL?

Does the man who cemented his reputation as “Primetime” making highlight-reel plays in the NFL opt to follow his children and become an NFL head coach? Or does the second-year Colorado coach ultimately remain in Boulder to continue his miraculous rebuild of the revived Buffaloes program?

It’s been a heated topic of discussion all across sports media, especially at ESPN, where several personalities like Stephen A. Smith have a close, personal relationship with Deion Sanders.

But while some like former Dallas teammate Michael Irvin believe Sanders would “100-percent” become the Cowboys head coach should the offer be extended, others are beginning to raise doubt Sanders would even make the jump to the NFL at all.

“I think Deion will control where Shedeur goes (in the NFL). I do not believe that Deion is going to go to the NFL with Shedeur,” ESPN NFL analyst and former Detroit Lions quarterback Dan Orlovsky said Thursday morning on ESPN’s Get Up. “Deion has set Shedeur up for success. Going to the NFL with Shedeur would set him up for failure. This is the grown men’s league. He’s not going to go play daddy’s son in the NFL.”

Deion Sanders has been Shedeur’s coach since their days at Trinity Christian School in Cedar Hill, Texas, where “Coach Prime” was the offensive coordinator before the pair moved to the college level when Deion was hired as the head coach at Jackson State in 2020.

Deion Sanders: ‘I am happy where I am, man’

Four years later, though, the Sanders tandem could finally go their separate ways, for the betterment of both as Orlovsky sees it.

“I don’t believe that Deion thinks that’s the best situation or best thing for his son. I also think that because of what’s happened this week, it’s way more likely that he stays at Colorado,” Orlovsky continued. “Colorado is on the verge of flipping a big-time recruit from USC, quarterback-wise (Julian Lewis), … and I just don’t believe that that young man would be entertaining — he just decomitted from USC and (could be) flipping to Colorado — unless he truly believed that Deion wasn’t going anywhere.”

The On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine is currently heavily favoring Deion Sanders and Colorado to land Lewis, the No. 39 overall prospect and No. 6 QB in the 2025 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

For his part, Deion Sanders has repeatedly shot down all speculation about his future.

“I am happy where I am, man. I’m good. I got a kickstand down,” Deion Sanders said earlier this week. “You know what a kickstand is? A lot of people in here at an age they don’t know what a kickstand is. That means I’m resting, I’m good, I’m happy. I’m excited, I’m enthusiastic about where I am. I love it here, truly do. Next question.”

Enthusiasm for what’s building in Boulder aside, Deion Sanders’ future will remain a point of debate — especially on the early morning sports talk shows — until it’s not. In the meantime, may the speculation rage.