Deion Sanders, head coach of the Colorado Buffaloes, has made it clear he has no intention of coaching in the NFL anytime soon. Despite rumors sparked by Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones about potential discussions with Sanders for the team’s head coaching vacancy, the former NFL star revealed it was never a serious consideration.
Speaking on his Tubi show We Got Time Today, alongside former Dallas teammate and Pro Football Hall of Famer Troy Aikman, Sanders candidly shared his thoughts on why coaching at the professional level doesn’t appeal to him.
“I couldn’t coach pro ball,” Sanders said, explaining his reservations about the NFL’s current culture. He pointed to what he perceives as a decline in work ethic among today’s players compared to those of his era.
“The way they practice, the way they go about it, I couldn’t take it, as a man, and as a football enthusiast, and I care about the game,” he added. Sanders emphasized that his passion for football and his standards for discipline and effort would make working in the NFL frustrating for him.
Sanders sets the record straight on NFL talks
The buzz around Sanders potentially leading the Cowboys gained traction last month when Jones hinted at discussions with the charismatic coach. While fans and analysts speculated on what such a partnership could look like, Sanders admitted the idea was more of a playful notion than a genuine opportunity. “I know it was cute, but I couldn’t coach pro ball,” he admitted, downplaying the hype surrounding the rumors.
Troy Aikman, however, believed Sanders could have been a strong candidate for the Cowboys. “For Dallas, Deion would have been a really good fit because he would have commanded the room,” Aikman said during their conversation.
He praised Sanders’ leadership qualities, noting that his personality would have ensured he was clearly in charge. Despite Aikman’s confidence in his former teammate’s ability to lead an NFL team, Sanders remained firm that it wasn’t in the cards.
As Sanders prepares for another season at Colorado, he faces a new challenge: life without his son Shedeur Sanders as quarterback. Shedeur is expected to be a high pick in the upcoming NFL Draft, and Deion has previously stated that he would only consider coaching in the NFL if it meant coaching his youngest sons. For now, though, Coach Prime is staying put in college football.