Deion Sanders Has Clear Feelings on Coaching in NFL, Fox’s Joel Klatt Says

The ex-Colorado quarterback believes his alma mater’s coach has a vision for the future.
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There may be no hotter name in American sports than Colorado coach Deion Sanders, who in two games has taken the Buffaloes from 1–11 afterthoughts to their highest AP ranking (No. 18) since 2016.

However, given the nature of the Pro Football Hall of Famer’s celebrity, speculation has already begun about whether his ultimate coaching destiny lies elsewhere.

Appearing on The Herd with Colin Cowherd, Fox color commentator and former Colorado quarterback Joel Klatt flatly rejected the suggestion that Sanders eventually wants to coach in the NFL.

“He’s not going to the NFL,” Klatt told Cowherd, repeating that line several times for emphasis. “I don’t know if he’s gonna be at Colorado for sure (going forward), but I can tell you for sure, he’s not going to the NFL.”

Pressed by Cowherd, Klatt insisted that Sanders’s heart lies with college football.

“Deion doesn’t want to coach in the NFL. He’s told me that, point blank, to my face. He believes that his role is more as a mentor. He loves coaching kids,” Klatt said. “He believes (coaching college football) is his ministry—to be there for kids in college, to be a father figure for kids in this moment of their life.”

Sanders will attempt to lead the Buffaloes to a 3–0 start Saturday night when Colorado meets rival Colorado State.


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Patrick Andres
PATRICK ANDRES

Patrick Andres is a staff writer on the Breaking and Trending News team at Sports Illustrated. He joined SI in December 2022, having worked for The Blade, Athlon Sports, Fear the Sword and Diamond Digest. Andres has covered everything from zero-attendance Big Ten basketball to a seven-overtime college football game. He is a graduate of Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism with a double major in history .