Deion Sanders has a message for anyone who thinks he's eyeing an NFL sideline: think again. In a candid interview on “The Barbershop” with Garrett Bush, the Colorado head coach made it crystal clear that his heart belongs in Boulder.
“I never wanted their job,” Sanders said, referring to NFL coaching positions. “I love Colorado, man. I love my kids that I have in that locker room. I love the staff. I love all of it. I ain’t trying to coach in no NFL.”
The remarks directly address speculation that swirled before the 2025 NFL Draft, when some believed Coach Prime might follow his son Shedeur to whichever team drafted him. Sanders acknowledges that perception may have influenced how teams evaluated his son.
“I think a couple people may have thought that,” he added. “And they thought if they brought him in, it would be that.”
A painful draft day for a father
The conversation also delved into the emotional toll of Shedeur's draft slide. Once projected as a surefire first-round pick, the quarterback fell all the way to the fifth round before the Cleveland Browns selected him. For Deion, watching from the sidelines was agonizing.
“That was the first time in my life that I couldn’t fix it,” Sanders explained. “I’ve always been able to fix it, with all my kids. But as that bulljunk was going on and everything was — I couldn’t fix it. And he wanted me to fix it. And I didn’t have the power to fix it. And that hurt, because I felt like I wasn’t there for my son.”
The elder Sanders also pushed back against pre-draft rumors questioning Shedeur's professionalism. Reports had suggested the quarterback showed up to meetings unprepared or with headphones on — claims Deion vehemently denies.
“It was some ignorant things came out about him pre-draft and all that, and that was a lie,” Sanders said. “Like he would never go into a meeting with headphones on. He would never go into a meeting unprepared. Like, that’s just not who he is. There’s no way he could accomplish the things he accomplished without being prepared. … So all that stuff was a lie, man. … that bothers me.”
Advice that backfired
Deion also revealed that he advised his son not to hire an agent, believing Shedeur would be selected first or second overall. That decision, made with confidence, turned into a painful miscalculation as draft day unfolded.
The Browns, meanwhile, have moved on from coach Kevin Stefanski, hiring former Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken. Veteran quarterback Deshaun Watson is expected to remain the team's starter, leaving Shedeur's immediate role unclear.
Despite the uncertainty, Deion remains focused on his Colorado program. He has reportedly sought a meeting with Browns coaches to discuss how to best utilize his son's talents. But there's no question where his own future lies.
“I love Colorado,” Sanders reiterated. “I ain’t trying to coach in no NFL.”
