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.”
"Deion doesn't want to coach in the NFL. He's told me that point blank to my face."
— Herd w/Colin Cowherd (@TheHerd) September 13, 2023
— @joelklatt shuts down Coach Prime rumors pic.twitter.com/BlxXuzoOmD
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.