Colorado Buffaloes coach Deion Sanders, who is trying to lead his team to a Big 12 title and a College Football Playoff berth, says he has no plans to leave the team despite rumors which sent him to other positions, including in the NFL.
Sanders orchestrated an impressive turnaround at Colorado (8-2), which has already doubled its 2023 win total. The Pro Football Hall of Famer, who began his coaching career at the collegiate level with Jackson State, has been mentioned as a potential candidate for a current or possible vacancy in the NFL, including with the Dallas Cowboys, where he played between 1995 and 1999, winning two Super Bowl titles.
His former Cowboys teammate Michael Irwin and several others have mentioned Sanders’ name for the Cowboys job if the team fires Mike McCarthy.
“I’m happy where I am,” Sanders said Tuesday. I have a crutch on the ground. Do you know what a crutch is? That means I’m resting. I’m good, I’m happy, I’m excited. I’m enthusiastic where I am. I love being here, I really do. »
Sanders received a five-year, $29.5 million contract when he was hired by Colorado in late 2022, following the team’s 1-11 record. The 17th-ranked Buffaloes, who visit Kansas on Saturday, are two wins away from a spot in the Big 12 championship game in their first season back in the conference. They are led by Heisman Trophy contenders Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders, the son of Deion Sanders. They are both expected to leave for the NFL after the season, along with a few other key pieces.
But Colorado has had success adding players via transfers, and the Buffaloes are among the top candidates for quarterback Julian Lewis, the second-best prospect in the class of 2025 according to ESPN.
Sanders also recognized several freshmen players who are contributing to Colorado’s success this season.
“It says a lot about our plan and the stability we’ll have here for a while,” Sanders said. We’re not going anywhere. We are starting to get comfortable. »
