Rick George made the hire of a lifetime by bringing Deion Sanders to Colorado. When he announced Coach Prime’s arrival in Boulder, he was confident enough to declare that he would not make another head coaching hire again. Two years later, that statement is proving to be partially true. A significant change in operations is currently taking place at Colorado, which could potentially impact Deion Sanders’ future.

The Deion Sanders era is facing significant challenges this season. It seems that the third time will not be the charm for the coach, despite his previous efforts to turn the program around. Meanwhile, Rick George, the man who made all of this possible, has made the difficult decision to step down as Athletic Director. This announcement sent shockwaves through the community and reignited discussions about Sanders’ future in Boulder. However, George has quelled any doubts with a firm stance on the situation.

“Coach Prime is my guy and we will continue to make @CUBuffsFootball great! On a mission to make CU Football great!” the former AD wrote on X. George will be transitioning into being emeritus AD and special advisor to the university chancellor. He’ll no longer be in direct control of things in Boulder, but will still be attached to Colorado sports. George has been at Colorado for a long, long time. But getting Deion Sanders to coach here will be the highlight of his tenure.

Deion Sanders coming to Colorado was a massive shift for the program. Not only did he prove to bring in better results than George’s last two hires, but his star power and position in the media helped Colorado make a giant leap to the national stage. Sanders came and revived a program that went 1-11 in the past. He followed that up with a 9-4 season in 2024, hosting one of the greatest college football stars in Travis Hunter.

Sanders’ illness had already begun the rumors of him being leaving Colorado. Then the 2025 season followed, with numbers disappointing enough to put him on the hot seat. Both developments caused the rumors about Sanders’ exit to cycle once again. But George has always maintained his faith in him. “I support Coach Prime 100%,” he wrote on X recently. Even when he announced Sanders’ hiring, he confirmed that he will be the last person he hired as HC.

A change in leadership can mean a lot of different things for Deion Sanders. As of now, his future at Boulder stands threatened and secured at the same time.

What does this mean for Deion Sanders?

Having an AD as a constant support is a blessing for any coach these days. It’s what Hugh Freeze wanted desperately at Auburn. But when it comes to Deion Sanders, there’s many things to consider when it comes to making a decision about his future. First, there’s the money. Sanders signed a $54 million contract extension this year, making a prompt dismissal extremely risky for CU.

Then, there’s the off-the-field impact Sanders’ presence has brought to the program. Folsom Field is packed on gamedays – which wasn’t a common sight in the years before Coach Prime’s arrival. Forcing Deion Sanders out would be crippling for this side of things at Colorado. But the onus is also on him to get things under control for next year. This season can still be tolerated as a test run for him without his stars. But Coach Prime also has to fix the recruiting problems, as his 2026 class is struggling to survive at No. 58.

“I’m a one day at a time type of guy. We’ve got to win. That’s the only thing I’m worried about,” Deion Sanders told the press after the Arizona loss. But things are still on high alert for the coach, who couldn’t take Colorado bowling this year. How much more damage will he have to incur this season?