When Deion Sanders landed a $54 million extension with the Colorado Buffaloes in March this year, sandwiched between legal jargon was also a small clause. One that required him to “operate a minimum of three on-campus football camps” aimed at providing coaching and skill development to different age groups. Yet, as the camps kicked off per schedule in early June, not only was the head coach nowhere to be seen, but the reason behind his absence also remained elusive as ever. The University of Colorado refused to comment, and so did Sanders’ team initially, until the worrying truth emerged.

A day after the HC’s eldest son, Deion Sanders Jr, appeared on a YouTube live stream confirming his father was “feeling well”, reports on June 8 talked of “an unspecified health issue” relegating the 57-year-old to his Texas estate. “When we get back in Boulder, I don’t know,” Jr had further commented. Now, to casual fans, this might not raise eyebrows, but avid followers of the sport and the Sanders family knew something had to be wrong, especially given the HC’s agonizing medical history.

Since September 2021, Deion Sanders has undergone at least 10 surgeries on his left leg due to blood clots and related circulation issues—two of his toes had to be amputated, along with the removal of the sides of his left calf. Add that to the recent health scare, and it explains why the air around Folsom Field felt heavier than usual. But despite the urgency of his situation, the retired NFL legend never gave up.

In fact, when things got tough, Sanders would double down on his faith, as evident from his son’s recent revelations. On July 26, the Well Off Media CEO posted an Instagram Reel that also doubled down as a tell-all. “Right now I just posted [something] on my dad’s page, just a little bit of what he went through—a little sample. Tomorrow he’s having his press conference, and that’s when y’all gonna really see a lot of it…He told me to document the whole thing… I’m like, ‘Bro, I just wanna be there as your son’,” Bucky revealed. “Now, as time going on, and as the battle was fought, and the battle was won, I see why.”

“Jesus healed a blind man that was born blind. And they asked who sinned. You know, who sinned to make him this way?…And Jesus said it’s nothing his parents did. ‘This happened so they could see my power in him’. You know, ‘So God’s power can be shown’,” Bucky said. That was the thought process in Coach Prime’s mind as well. “So, that’s the way my dad was thinking the whole time, with having me record…’This is an opportunity for God’s power to be shown, with all these trials and tribulations I’m going through’.” 

“It actually happened in April, not gonna lie to you, before the draft. So, that’s when it started…Just be ready tomorrow. We’re gonna show you a lot more stuff,” the 31-year-old further said. Notably, this comes a short while after Sanders himself revealed in an Instagram Reel, “I don’t know if I’m ready mentally, emotionally.” In the video originally captured on May 9, Coach Prime then revealed, “Last night was tough, yesterday was tough. Because I had to make a will. It’s not easy at all to think that you may not be here…”

As expected, Bucky stayed by his side like the dutiful son he is, and is setting up the stage for his return to Colorado. Deiondra Sanders, on the other hand, sent her support by sharing the post on her Instagram Stories with a praying emoji. She also shared her brother’s post, writing, “Good ole son”.

Now, as we wait for the press conference, all we can do is pray. Because in Deion Sanders Jr’s words: “I just want to be there for you.”