Deion Sanders’ health has been the biggest talk of the offseason. It all started back in June when word on the street was that Sanders was dealing with an unspecified illness. Then, in July, he opened up about being diagnosed with a rare type of aggressive bladder cancer. He underwent surgery, spent a couple of nights in the hospital, and eventually recovered from both the cancer and blood clot issues. It felt like everything was finally back to normal until Week 6 against TCU, so Deion Sanders decided to go ahead with a 4-hour surgery to remove blood clots from his lower body..

On October 7th, Deion Sanders took to Instagram to celebrate the completion of his blood clot removal. He posted a photo from the hospital with his son, Deion Sanders Jr., and his friend Adam “Pacman” Jones. Mind you, Prime Time underwent a four-hour surgery. Despite the serious procedure, Sanders said he hoped to return to football practice the very next day and didn’t expect to miss Colorado’s upcoming game against Iowa State.

During the TCU post-game press conference last weekend, Sanders admitted that he thought new blood clots might have formed again: “Cat’s out of the bag, all right. I think I’ve got more blood clots, It don’t make sense. I’m hurting like crazy… I’m not getting blood to my leg. That’s why my leg is throbbing.” His honesty showed how difficult these ongoing health challenges have been, even while he continues to coach his team and stay positive in public.

Sanders has faced blood clot issues before. In 2021, when he was coaching at Jackson State, he had to have two toes on his left foot amputated because of poor circulation caused by clots. Then, in 2023, he missed the Pac-12 media day to treat another blood clot in his right leg and to undergo surgery on his toes.

Despite these serious setbacks, adversity and tribulations, Sanders continues to fight through his health problems while leading his team and inspiring others with his determination:”‘I choose to rise up and not stay down. I want everybody to understand that you can make it. We’ve all got something to fight. It may not be cancer, but it’s something. But you will overcome. We can do this.’”

Deion Sanders is eager to return to the Boulder facility for Wednesday’s practice: “Prayerfully, I’ll be right back tomorrow ‘cause I don’t miss practice. I don’t plan on doing such. It is what it is, and we found what we found… I have a wonderful team of doctors at UC Health and a wonderful team of trainers here.” When the internet found out that Deion Sanders’ surgery was completed successfully, everyone came with digital flowers and prayers

Deion Sanders receives love from the college football world

Social media influencer Sara Harris offered a prayer for Deion Sanders with a Bible verse: ‘Heal him father please Deuteronomy 32:39 🙌🏾.’ Deion Sanders has been going through a lot of pain and tribulation this offseason, both on and off the field, especially with Shedeur and Shilo’s NFL careers and how bad they were treated. Prayers are exactly what he needs right now

Fans continued pouring in love messages, showing just how much the coach means to people both on and off the field. One supporter wrote, “Let’s go, Coach! You mean a lot to our culture!” highlighting the impact Deion has on Boulder, and the black community. The Buffs head coach quickly turned a struggling football team into a winning program, grabbing huge national attention and bringing in top players. This “Prime Effect” boosted the local economy with record ticket and merchandise sales, and even increased university applications, especially among diverse students, changing the overall vibe in Boulder. 

Another fan shared, “God is doing what He does best—healing you up! You got this, family ✊🏽🙏🏽✨,” offering encouragement and a sense of unity. The Buffaloes need Deion Sanders more than ever. They are 2-4 overall and 0-3 in the Big 12. Without his presence, the team could continue to spiral downward. Short but powerful messages also appeared, like, “God’s got you, my brother!!!,” and “Blessings, family. Prayers up ⬆️,” reflecting faith and hope in his recovery.