Analyst dishes on Sanders’ interest in NFL coaching

Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders. Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Analyst dishes on Deion Sanders’ interest in coaching in the NFL

By Michael Gallagher | Last updated 9/13/23

As he continues to raise the national profile of the University of Colorado, head coach Deion Sanders will presumably become a hot commodity for any top-tier program looking to fill a future head coaching vacancy.

But Fox Sports analyst Joel Klatt divulged that while Sanders may eventually be tempted enough to leave Colorado for another college job, he has no interest in coaching in the NFL.

"He’s not going to the NFL," Klatt said during a recent appearance on “The Herd.” "I don’t know if he’s going to be at Colorado for sure. I can’t say that, but 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.”

There’s no question Sanders’ star is on the rise. It took him one season to transform Jackson State from a four-win team to one that went 23-3 during his last two seasons. And just two games into his first season with CU, the Buffaloes have won more games in 2023 than they did all of the previous season.

Demand for tickets to football games is through the roof and the school, as well as Sanders himself, don't appear to be leaving the national spotlight anytime soon.

Colorado students were lined up EARLY to get tickets to see Deion Sanders and Colorado play this weekend pic.twitter.com/QxnGVZZwFK
— Colorado on Athlon (@BuffsonAthlon) September 13, 2023

Colorado, which is ranked No. 18 in the AP Top 25 poll, had the No. 21-ranked recruiting class in the country in 2023 and the top-ranked transfer class, according to 247Sports.

Sanders will likely have one of, if not the top recruiting class in the country next year as well, as he claims he’s received an “absurd” amount of calls from recruits after season-opening wins over TCU and Nebraska.

The relationship building that Sanders is doing presently with three-, four- and five-star recruits who then become the foundation of his programs (like cornerback Travis Hunter and quarterback Shedeur Sanders) is exactly why he will likely never stop coaching in the college ranks.

“He believes that his role is more as a mentor,” Klatt continued. “He loves coaching kids, and this is where he feels called. In fact, the word that he used with us in our meeting — and you’ll know this because he’s very forward about his faith — he believes this is his ministry. To be there for kids in college. Be a father figure to kids in this moment in their life.”

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