Deion Sanders Bold Stand on Faith: ‘Ain’t nobody going to tell me not to’

Deion Sanders is once again making waves—not just for his team’s performance, but for his unapologetic embrace of his faith. At Tuesday’s press conference, the iconic Hall-of-Famer turned head coach of the Colorado Buffaloes was asked about his belief in God, and delivered a powerful, candid response that left no doubt about where he stands.

"My relationship [with God] is tremendous," Sanders stated. "It's not going to cease. It's not going to stop. I'm not going to be ashamed of the gospel. That's what my Bible tells me, and I'm going to proclaim my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ wherever I want to. Ain’t nobody going to tell me not to."

Sanders’ statement comes amidst renewed scrutiny from the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF), a nonprofit dedicated to the separation of church and state. The FFRF recently sent a letter to the University of Colorado, criticizing Sanders’ use of team prayers and the involvement of spiritual advisors, such as Pastor E. Dewey Smith, following games. The organization argues that such practices at a public university amount to unconstitutional religious coercion, potentially alienating players or staff members who may not share the same beliefs.

This is not the first time Sanders’ faith has been called into question. Upon his arrival at Colorado, the FFRF raised similar concerns about his overt displays of religiosity. In response, the university provided Sanders with additional training on the boundaries of religious expression in public institutions. Despite this, Sanders has remained steadfast in his practices, regularly leading team prayers and sharing faith-based messages on social media as a cornerstone of his leadership style.

The controversy has attracted support from First Liberty Institute, a nonprofit legal organization advocating for religious freedom. In a letter to the university, First Liberty argued that Sanders’ actions are constitutionally protected, pointing to America’s longstanding tradition of public prayer and chaplain programs in public institutions. They likened Sanders’ situation to a 2022 Supreme Court case, where a high school football coach’s post-game prayer was ruled as private religious expression.

However, Sanders’ case differs in its team-wide scope, with prayers being led in the locker room—a context some critics view as coercive. This raises broader questions about the balance between individual religious expression and the rights of others in public institutions.

As the legal and cultural debate continues, the University of Colorado faces a challenging task of reconciling these competing perspectives. For his part, Sanders appears unwavering, making it clear that his faith remains central to both his life and his coaching philosophy.