After decades of losing seasons, it was time for the University of Colorado Boulders’ Athletic Director, Rick George, to make a big time hire for the next head football coach. He delivered.
On Saturday, December 3rd, after weeks of prayers and rumors amongst the CU faithful, it was announced that Deion Sanders, also known as “Coach Prime”, will be coaching as the next Head Coach of the Buffs.
Sanders was formerly the head coach at the HBCU (Historically Black College or University), Jackson State, after his legendary NFL career. Sanders was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons with the fifth overall in the 1989 NFL Draft out of Florida State. During his 14 seasons, “Neon Deion” spent time with the Falcons, San Francisco 49ers, Dallas Cowboys, Washington Redskins (now the Washington Commanders), and the Baltimore Ravens. Sanders finished his career with two Super Bowl victories, 53 interceptions, 22 total touchdowns, and eight Pro Bowl selections. According to the website profootballhof.com, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in the Class of 2011, saying, “They don’t pay nobody to be humble. Some people will come out to see me do well. Some people will come out to see me get run over. But love me or hate me, they’re going to come out.”
Sanders is going to bring this same confidence and swagger with him to Boulder, and try to infuse it into the entire University. In his introductory press conference on Sunday December 4, courtesy of Buffs TV, Sanders said,“And now that I’ve gotten here and I can see it, and I understand it, and I can grasp it, I can touch it, I can feel it, I can taste it, I truly understand what you want. All you want is an opportunity to win, to compete, to dominate, to be amongst the absolute best. And darn it, I’m going to give you that.”
The Sanders hire makes Colorado Football nationally relevant instantaneously. This is huge for a program with just one winning season (other than the Covid-19 shortened 2020 season, which consisted of only six games) since 2005. This run has seen four head coaches, the most success of which came under Mike MacIntyre, who led the team for six years, from 2013-2018. They have not won a bowl game since 2004. They are 2-10 against their “rival”, the Utah Utes, since entering the PAC-12 in 2011. They are the only team in the PAC-12 never to have won the conference championship, as in their lone appearance, they got blown out 41-10 at the hands of the Washington Huskies in the 2016 Conference Championship game. The Buffs are overdue for a good run from the Football team.
Deion Sanders brings a lot to the table. Arguably most importantly, he is likely the best recruiter in all of college sports. Sanders is going to make huge upgrades to the Buffs’ roster at every position. This made some waves with the current roster. According to Well Off Media, Sanders told the current team, “I’m coming, and I’m bringing my luggage with me, and it’s Louis [Vuitton].”

Implying that he has players coming with him from Jackson State and elsewhere. He even went so far as to tell the current players to “hit the portal.” Since his hire, the Buffs have already received confirmation from multiple transfers, including Sanders’ son, Shedeur Sanders, who was the star Quarterback under his dad at JSU. It is expected that the #1 player from the 2022 class, Travis Hunter, is transferring over with Sanders. They also received a commitment from the 13th ranked player in the 2025 class, five star Wide Receiver Winston Watkins Jr.
Athletic Director Rick George is very excited with this new hire, as well as what it means for the future of the program.
In an interview with Buffs TV, he said, “Today is a new day. This is when we focus on what’s ahead, and the bright future that’s ahead of us, and coming together for a common purpose, and that’s to bring this program back to national prominence.” George has made a series of lackluster hires. Most recently, with the hire of Karl Dorrell, who was likely underqualified and lacked the leadership skills to motivate the team. This time is different, George is committed to bringing an excellent program to Boulder for the first time since the 1990s. “Everybody said ‘let’s go all in,’ it’s time to go all in!”
This hire not only puts Buffaloes Football back on the map, but it puts the University of Colorado in the national spotlight. Joel Klatt, CU alumni and Quarterback from 2002-2005, believes that this hire is the most important thing the University has done in a very long time. He discussed this on his podcast, the Joel Klatt Show.
“There is no more important hire, at any university, than the football coach… There’s a lot of data to back that up,” Klatt says. “The academics increase, the level of applicants increases, the number of applicants increases, the number of out of state applicants increase. It’s hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of millions of dollars every year.”
This is a huge boost for the school. The academics will improve, they can develop new programs and majors, and make many improvements to better serve their students for years to come. The University of Colorado just leveled up in a big way.
The future of the Colorado Buffaloes Football program is brighter than it’s been in the past three decades. With this hire, Rick George and University Chancellor Phil DiStefano have made it clear they are committed to building a national Football force in Boulder. Sanders summed it up best on Sunday in his introductory press conference.
“I just want to let you know we’re on the way. Not to show up, but to show out. Not to compete, but to win. Not to be among the rest, but to be the absolute best. We’re coming to work, not to play. We’re coming to kill, not to kick it. Baby, we are coming.”

Sources:
https://www.profootballhof.com/players/deion-sanders/
Buffs TV
Well Off Media
@JoelKlattShow//twitter