Deion Sanders cancer diagnosis: Colorado coach reveals he had bladder surgery after tumor

Yahoo

28-07-2025

Colorado football coach Deion Sanders and his medical team revealed that he had bladder cancer and had his bladder removed but is now cured from cancer.
He held a news conference Monday, July 28 in Colorado to discuss it after being away at his estate in east Texas in May and June while he recovered. He was accompanied at the news conference by his doctor, Janet Kukreja, and Colorado athletic trainer Lauren Askevold.
"It's been a tremendous journey," Sanders said. "It's been tough."
He said he lost 25 pounds and "can't pee like I used to pee" but was grateful and is starting his third season as coach at Colorado.
"I depend on Depends," Sanders said with sense of humor. He also encouraged men to get screened for the condition.
"I always knew I was going to coach again," Sanders said, ending any rumors that he planned to retire.
Deion Sanders' health history
Sanders, 57, declined to disclose his condition until now, even though he acknowledged in late May that he had suffered an unspecified health setback. He missed several events during that time, including the May 24 wedding of his star player from last year, Travis Hunter, along with Colorado's annual youth and high school football camps on campus in June. Recruits who came to campus in June were told he was out sick. He also missed a speaking appearance scheduled for June 8 in Florida but still said he was OK on social media without revealing what the problem was.
He made an appearance at a Big 12 Conference media days event in Frisco, Texas, July 9, but declined to talk about his health. He didn't return to Colorado until July 25, two days before his players were due to report to campus for the start of preseason camp.
He has a history of blood circulation issues in his legs and has said blood clots run in the family, with one uncle dead because of it. He spent 23 days in the hospital in the fall of 2021 and said he nearly died there as he battled compartment syndrome on his left leg and had two toes amputated from his left foot. He missed three games because of it that season as head coach at Jackson State in Mississippi but healed enough to lead his team to a 11-2 record that season, including the three games he missed.
He underwent more surgeries to fix blood clots in the summer of 2023 and even had to miss a Pac-12 media days event because of it.
What does Deion Sanders' contract say in this regard?
He agreed to a new five-year contract earlier this year worth more than $10 million per year. It requires him to notify the athletic director if he's absent for more than five consecutive working days.
It has a disability provision:
'If after engaging in the interactive process with the University's Center for Disability & Access, Coach is deemed unable to perform the essential functions of his job with or without reasonable accommodation, this Agreement will automatically terminate, and Sanders' salary and all other benefits shall end in the month of such termination notice.'
If he decided to retire from coaching, it says he wouldn't have to pay liquidated damages to the university to buy out his contract but would owe some damages if he retired and then changed his mind to coach somewhere else.
Follow reporter Brent Schrotenboer @Schrotenboer. Email: [e-mail]
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Deion Sanders cancer diagnosis: Colorado coach reveals bladder surgery