Total Pro Sports
Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders told reporters on Monday that he recently battled bladder cancer, undergoing surgery to remove his bladder before doctors declared him cancer-free.
Concerns were raised about Deion Sanders’ health earlier this year, especially when he was absent from football camps in the spring. On Monday, Sanders revealed that doctors discovered a tumor in his bladder that had to be removed.
Despite the significant health scare, the 57-year-old Sanders said he’ll return to coaching the Buffaloes this season.
During Monday’s press conference, Deion Sanders revealed that he kept his cancer diagnosis a secret from his Shilo and Shedeur Sanders, because he wanted them to stay focused on their NFL career.
“My sons to this day don’t know what transpired,” Sanders said. “I just told them it’s something with my foot. Again, because I want them to focus on making the team, and not focus on dad.”
Deion Sanders reveals he didn't tell his sons about his bladder tumor so they can focus on their careers.
"I just told them it's something with my foot." https://t.co/VVSdEnvW3j pic.twitter.com/cJnt2e1Mae
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) July 28, 2025
Shedeur Sanders was drafted in the fifth round (144th overall) by the Cleveland Browns in April. His older brother, Shilo Sanders, signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent.
Shilo still faces a daunting task in locking down one of the final 53-man roster spots in Tampa, while Sanders is battling it out with Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett and fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel for Cleveland’s starting QB job.
Deion Sanders coached Shilo and Shedeur at Jackson State, and later Colorado after the Hall of Famer was hired by the Buffaloes. After going 4-8 in 2023, the Buffaloes improved to a 9-4 finish in 2024.
To kick off year one of the post-Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter era, Coach Prime and the Buffaloes will host the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets on Aug. 29 (8:00 p.m. EST). After that, they’ll wrap up their mini two-game homestand against the Delaware Blue Hens (3:30 p.m. EST).
