Deion Sanders Says He’ll Be At Colorado 5-10 More Years Minimum

Deion Sanders captivated the college football world during the 2023 season, especially as his Colorado Buffaloes started the season with three impressive wins. 

Losses to Oregon and USC though, sent their season into a tailspin. Colorado lost six straight games to end the season, including an embarrassing 56-14 loss to Washington State. Even still though, speculation about Sanders leaving Boulder for the NFL increased, especially with his sons set to age out of college football in the future. In a recent appearance on the All The Smoke podcast, however, Sanders said he has no intention of leaving anytime soon.

"Most people ask me, 'What you gonna do when they're out, you're going to the pros together?' I said, 'A real father leads his sons, he doesn't follow them,'" Sanders explained. "So I'm good, I'll be here. I ain't going nowhere, I'm straight, I love Boulder, Colorado, and I cannot wait till they go into the NFL and do their thing."

He was asked where the Sanders family will be in the next 5-10 years, he replied: "The kids will be in the pros, and I'll be here."

Seems a bit optimistic on both sides!

BOULDER, CO - SEPTEMBER 30:  Head coach Deion Sanders of the Colorado Buffaloes gives a pregame interview before a game against the USC Trojans at Folsom Field on September 30, 2023 in Boulder, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)

Will Deion Sanders Stay In Colorado For The Next 5-10 Years?

Initially, it seemed like Sanders was going to engineer an almost immediate turnaround for the Colorado program through the transfer portal. That ended quickly once the schedule got tougher.

Now the Buffaloes head to the Big 12 Conference, with a potentially easier road ahead than a difficult Pac-12 Conference. Still, Colorado has an uphill road to build a legitimately nationally relevant team. And while the novelty of seeing Sanders coaching major college football was enough in 2023, if they struggle again in 2024, will recruiting and fan interest suffer?

Sanders has excelled at creating hype and interest as a head coach, but at some point he'll have to demonstrate some success at a Power-5 level to justify a 5-10 year tenure. And if he does that, given the ratings, attention and ticket sales he generates, it's possible, if not likely, that he bolts for even bigger pastures. Even if that's just a more prominent college football program.

Maybe Sanders is telling the truth though, and he'll stay in Colorado while building them into a national contender year in and year out. After all, he did tell the podcast he doesn't "want to coach in the NFL." Maybe we should believe him.