Jackson State University head football coach Deion Sanders speaks to media during the Southwestern Athletic Conference annual Football Media Day at the Sheraton-Birmingham Hotel in Birmingham, Ala., on Tuesday. Eric Shelton/Clarion Ledger via Imagn Content Services, LLC

Deion Sanders walks out of press event after being called 'Deion'

By Zac Wassink | Last updated 7/20/21

Deion Sanders is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the current head football coach of the Jackson State Tigers and, thus, has encountered his fair share of press obligations over the years.

According to Langston Newsome of the Mississippi Clarion-Ledger, Sanders prematurely exited Tuesday's SWAC media day event all because he felt disrespected somebody called him by his first name.

"You don't call Nick Saban, 'Nick.' Don't call me Deion," Sanders said to Nick Suss of the Clarion-Ledger. "If you call Nick (Saban), Nick, you'll get cussed out on the spot, so don't do that to me."

Sanders then walked out after he was referred to by his first name a second time.

As Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk and others were quick to note, Sanders was incorrect in stating no reporters refer to Saban by his first name during seasons. Nevertheless, Coach Prime took to Twitter to address the "foolishness" he seemingly laughed off: