Why Does Deion Sanders Have a Portable Toilet for Colorado Football Game? All About His Cancer

When Deion Sanders speaks, people listen. Always. From dominating the NFL and MLB to leading Jackson State and now coaching the Buffs, the spotlight has followed him everywhere. Recently, though, the focus shifted from the field to his health. Rumors even circulated that he might step down as head coach, but those proved false. Still, 2025 brought him a serious health scare, and it sent shockwaves through the football world.

Well, after days of being absent in Colorado, Deion Sanders opened up about a private health battle in July. He was diagnosed with bladder cancer, and the news shook fans. However, thankfully, the Colorado HC and Pro Football Hall of Famer is now cancer-free. Following that, doctors removed his bladder and built a new one. So, life won’t be the same, but Sanders is ready. And he’s taking it all in stride.

On August 29, USATodaySports reporter Brent Schrotenboer shared a striking moment from Friday’s game. Just steps from the Buffaloes’ bench stood a portable toilet, branded by Depend, the adult underwear company. No joke. This was Coach Prime’s bold move. Instead of hiding his health battle, he faced it head-on, right in the spotlight. And yes, he even found a way to turn it into a moment that mattered and earned. But why?

Here’s the thing: at 58, Sanders underwent surgery to replace his bladder with a neobladder built from his small intestine. It’s smaller than a natural bladder, which means more frequent trips to the restroom. So here, Coach Prime wasn’t just making a joke; he was sending a message.

“I wasn’t joking,” posted Sanders on social media. “I truly DEPEND on Depend. Ain’t no shame in taking care of yourself. Ain’t no shame in health screenings. Ain’t no shame in needing added protection to stay in the game. That’s not weakness, that’s winning.” So, with the partnership announcement, Sanders made it clear: health is serious. Self-care is essential. And even in the toughest battles, he’s showing how to face them with courage, honesty, and a touch of swagger. Interestingly, in July, Sanders joked with former NFL receiver Michael Irvin about the reality of coaching after surgery.

“I know I got halftime, but can I make it through a game?” he said. “What if there’s a long quarter? OK, so I start thinking I gotta get a Porta Potty for the sideline.” It was classic Deion Sanders, mixing honesty with humor, turning a private challenge into a public punchline. But now he’s spoken openly about how the diagnosis reshaped him.

In a recent CNN interview, Sanders called it part of a greater purpose. “I’m a happy man that I was chosen to carry this burden so I could tell the world about it. I think everyone has somebody that can relate to what I’ve gone through, and I’m still here.” So, for Sanders, survival isn’t just personal; it’s a platform. And his story is bigger than football. It’s about strength and a perspective that refuses to be silenced. Now, Deion’s bold sideline move turned heads, but the real focus shifts to what’s happening on the field.

Colorado’s 2025 season opener under Deion Sanders

This marks Sanders’ third season at Colorado, coming off a 9-4 campaign in 2024. The Big 12 skipped a preseason poll in 2025, but questions still hang over the Buffaloes. And for good reason. They’re moving forward without two of the greatest players in program history, Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter. And now, ESPN’s preseason FPI slots them at No. 44, a reminder that the road ahead won’t be easy. But how is the season opener shaping up?

Colorado struck first and struck fast. After linebacker Martavius French ripped the ball away on Georgia Tech’s second play from scrimmage, the Buffs capitalized. And then QB Kaidon Salter found newcomer DeKalon Taylor for an 8-yard score, capping a short 36-yard drive. Just like that, Colorado led 7-0. But Georgia Tech didn’t fold.

The Yellow Jackets marched 98 yards from their own 2-yard line, chipping away at Colorado’s defense. However, by the end of the first quarter, they had outgained the Buffs 144-45 yards and sat deep in Colorado territory. Still, turnovers, three of them, kept the Jackets from cashing in, while the Buffs wasted chances of their own with back-to-back punts. Now, the opener is sloppy, scrappy, and still wide open.