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“Emotional Athlete”: Former MVP Steve Young Credits Deion Sanders for His Underrated Role in 49ers’ Last Super Bowl Win

Published 03/26/2024, 3:00 AM EDT

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Coach Deion Sanders isn’t just about building a solid team on paper; he’s building a team that gels. From fiery motivation to strategic advice – with a dash of tough love when needed – Sanders molds these young players into teammates, not just individual athletes. His passion for teamwork probably stems from his great history as a team player.

Deion played for several teams, including Florida State, Atlanta, San Francisco, Dallas, Washington, and Baltimore. But no matter where he went, he was always known for putting winning and his teammates first. Even Steve Young, Deion’s former teammate, agrees with this. He also credits the underrated Deion as an “emotionally strong athlete.”

Steve Young credits Coach Prime for being a great teammate

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A young Deion Sanders, a star cornerback back in 1994, joined forces with Hall of Fame quarterback Steve Young on the San Francisco 49ers as a free agent. Their teamwork paid off – they won the Super Bowl that year, with Young earning MVP honors. Now, a video by Young highlights Deion’s underrated role as a team player. Young also credited Deion as a key part of their championship win. He even captioned the video with a “goat” emoji and the statement, “Behind the scenes and in the trenches where it really mattered, #21 [Deion Sanders] was an excellent teammate.”

He even shared Deion’s words about being a teammate — “I’m gonna be the best teammate you ever had…in the locker room I got your back.” Young called Deion a “phenomenal teammate” and a “very underrated…locker room guy.” He added, “Amazing athlete…not just athlete physically like an emotional athlete.” This suggests Coach Sanders might be great at building teams that work together, which could be a huge advantage for the Buffs.

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Deion Sanders: From teammate to team builder

Deion Sanders is turning the Buffs into a proper shape. He makes them work hard and be “accountable” for their mistakes. The coach also often highlights that team spirit is built on reliability. He pushes them hard, even implementing a “win or raise” mentality to keep them focused. Sanders isn’t just strict, though. He encourages players to share ideas and gets them mentally prepared. At times, he also doesn’t shy away from having fun amidst the practice. This combination of discipline, support, fun, and mental toughness is turning the Buffs into a formidable force.

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Sanders also knows building a winning team takes time, especially with a new group of players. The Buffs have a lot of fresh faces this year — 30 new players in total, including transfers and high school recruits. But Sanders has been patient, giving them time to learn his game plan and become a team. It seems to work; many are discussing the Buffs as a team to watch this season. Much of the credit goes to their head coach, a former “great teammate” who’s brought his winning spirit to the sidelines.

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Written by:

M.R. Jenifer

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Jenifer Martin is a college football writer for EssentiallySports. Recently, her coverage has focused on the latest developments in college football, including the transfer portal phenomenon and its impact on team dynamics. Before joining ES, she was a part of Pinkvilla as a fitness and sportainment writer.
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Edited by:

Shubhankar Adhikari