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Deion Sanders' Son Says Fathers' Return to Boulder Uncertain in Surprise Update
Deion Sanders' Son Says Fathers' Return to Boulder Uncertain in Surprise Update originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The Colorado Buffaloes may be charging toward the 2025 season, but their head coach, Deion 'Coach Prime' Sanders, is far from the spotlight, and that absence is raising concern.
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Sanders, 57, has been holed up at his estate in Canton, Texas, quietly grappling with an undisclosed health issue that has sidelined him from team activities and a prominent speaking engagement. While speculation swirls, his eldest son, Deion Sanders Jr., offered a rare update from their home, aiming to reassure fans, but leaving the timeline for his father's return open-ended.
'He'll tell y'all soon enough what he going through, what he went through,' Sanders Jr. said on a YouTube livestream on June 8. 'When we get back in Boulder, I don't know. I'm waiting until my dad leaves. When he leaves, then I'll go.'
Coach Prime's absence was particularly notable at Colorado's annual summer football camps, an event he attended in both 2023 and 2024. His involvement is not only expected by fans but contractually outlined by the university. Yet this year, his presence has only been felt in marketing materials, not on the field.
More fuel was added to the fire when Sanders abruptly canceled a high-profile keynote appearance at The Foundation for Sickle Cell Disease Research symposium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on June 8. NBA Hall-of-Famer Magic Johnson was brought in last-minute to replace him. The official reason given: an 'unavoidable last-minute scheduling change.' But with Sanders' known health history, including multiple surgeries due to blood clots and the amputation of two toes, the cancellation has fans fearing something more serious.
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Sanders hinted at the severity during a rare public appearance on Asante Samuel's podcast, Say What Needs to Be Said. 'I lost about 14 pounds,' he said. 'I'm coming back, but I needed this… What I'm dealing with right now is at whole other level.'
Despite the weight loss and his disappearance from the public eye, those close to Sanders insist he's on the mend. CU athletic trainer Lauren Askevold, who's been by his side through previous complications, is reportedly with him in Texas. And his son insists he's 'feeling well.'
Deion Sanders and his son Deion Sanders Sanders Jr./Well Off Media
But until Coach Prime reappears on the sidelines in Boulder, fans are left with questions, and growing concern.
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The Buffaloes are set to open their 2025 season against Georgia Tech on Aug. 29, with national expectations riding high following Sanders' five-year, $54 million extension. Now the biggest question isn't about quarterback battles or recruiting classes, it's about whether Coach Prime will be physically ready to lead.
Related: Tony Grossi Has Words for Shedeur Sanders Hype: 'He's a Developmental QB'
Related: Jordan Domineck Joins Athlon Sports as College Football Reporter
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 10, 2025, where it first appeared.
