Deion Sanders Wants Two NFL Coaches in Colorado to Break 200 Years of Experience
Since Deion Sanders took over as head coach of the Colorado Buffaloes in 2023, he has focused on building a coaching staff with deep NFL roots. His vision is clear by surround his players with coaches who not only understand the next level, but who have lived it.
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Sanders wants his players to pursue NFL dreams in an environment where they're coached by men who have been there either as players, coaches, or both. This philosophy has paid off in a massive way in Boulder. Not only are recruits starting to buy in, but transfer players who've experience other programs see the cultural movement.
From the beginning, Sanders assembled a staff filled with impressive NFL experience, including Hall of Famers like Marshall Faulk and Warren Sapp. That trend may not be over just yet. During his appearance at Big 12 Media Days last week, Sanders made headlines when he shared his desire to add two more prominent names in Mike Zimmer and Byron Leftwich.
'Our coaching staff, this is without Byron Leftwich, which I'm praying that he does the right thing, and Mike Zimmer, we have 160 years of NFL experience,' Sanders said during his opening speech. 'With those two added, that's 204 years of NFL experience. And I want those years.'
Zimmer, the former head coach of the Minnesota Vikings, already worked with Sanders during his time at Jackson State. His defensive mind and NFL resume would be a natural fit in Boulder. Leftwich, meanwhile, made his mark in the NFL both as a player and coach. A former first-round pick of the Jacksonville Jaguars, Leftwich rose to prominence as an offensive coordinator under Bruce Arians in Tampa Bay. His tenure from 2019 to 2022 included helping land free agent quarterback Tom Brady and leading the Buccaneers to a Super Bowl LV title.
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Related: Has Colorado Football Lost Its Hype? Can Coach Prime Reignite in 2025?
Adding both coaches would further cement Colorado's coaching staff as one of the most NFL-ready in the nation. With a potential total of over 200 combined years of league experience, Sanders is building an NFL pipeline. For recruits dreaming of Sundays, Colorado might soon be the closest thing to a professional environment in college football.
Related: Will Deion Sanders Pass The Nike Torch to Shedeur Before NFL Season?
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 15, 2025, where it first appeared.
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