The NFL Hall of Famer and Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders revealed he was diagnosed with an aggressive form of bladder cancer.
And in true Deion fashion, he didn’t fold. He fought through surgery that removed his bladder, underwent intestinal reconstruction, and still showed up for fall camp—cowboy hat, overalls, and all.
“This wasn’t easy,” Sanders said, visibly emotional at a recent press conference. “But we made it.”
Sanders, who turns 58 next month, says his doctors now consider him cured. No chemo. No radiation. Just resilience. His early-stage detection came from a precautionary CT scan tied to previous blood clot issues. That decision likely saved his life.
Here’s what’s wild: while he was going through cancer treatment, he never once considered quitting. “I always knew I was going to coach again,” he said. “God wouldn’t allow me to leave my purpose undone.”
His medical team echoed the sentiment. “He never wavered,” said team trainer Lauren Askevold. “He just kept going. He’s a fighter.”
Even after dropping 25 pounds, Sanders still cracked jokes. “I was like Atlanta Falcons Prime again,” he laughed. But don’t get it twisted—the toll was real. At one point, he had to draft a will. “Not easy,” he said. “But you’ve got to handle your business.”
Support came in from everywhere—including fellow football great Randy Moss, who also recently battled cancer. “Randy called me every other day. He prayed with me. That meant everything.”
The Buffs return to the field August 29 against Georgia Tech, but for the first time in years, Deion won’t be coaching his sons. Shedeur Sanders was drafted by the Browns, and Shilo is now with the Buccaneers.
Still, Sanders is locked in. With a new roster and his health back, he’s eyeing another winning season.
And if there’s one takeaway Deion keeps hammering: get checked early.
“The ‘C’ word doesn’t always have to be a death sentence,” he said. “Not this time.”
