Bankruptcy case weighs on Deion Sanders' son as creditor eyes final NFL roster cuts

Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie safety Shilo Sanders is playing for more than just a roster spot this preseason. With final cuts looming this week, the son of Colorado coach Deion Sanders faces an unusual off-field storyline with an ongoing bankruptcy case carrying an $11.8 million judgment that could shape his financial future just as much as his NFL one.

While Shilo focuses on making tackles and covering passes, his financial fate rests in the hands of a bankruptcy judge. The debt stems from a 2015 incident in Dallas, when Sanders, who was a high school sophomore, was accused of assaulting security guard John Darjean. A default judgment was ordered in the case after Sanders after he failed to appear in court. He later filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy , hoping to wipe the debt clean. However, it's not that simple. 

The bankruptcy court will decide whether Sanders’ debt is dischargeable. If the judge rules the assault was a “willful and malicious” injury, the debt survives bankruptcy, leaving Sanders open to wage garnishment. Federal law caps garnishment at 25% of post-tax income, but even that slice of an NFL salary would provide Darjean a steady path to repayment, according to USA TODAY Sports. 

If, however, the court sides with Sanders’ claim of self-defense, the debt could be wiped away, freeing him financially even as he builds his career. That decision may not come until the end of the year, leaving both sides in limbo.

Meanwhile, Darjean has a surprising interest in Sanders’ football career. If he succeeds, it could mean a road to recovery years in the making. 

“If Shilo Sanders makes the Bucs’ roster and starts earning NFL paychecks, that gives Darjean the best chance of recovering something on his claim,” University of Texas law professor Angela Littwin told USA TODAY Sports. 

That dynamic has turned the case into an unusual subplot. The two men, adversaries in court for nearly a decade, now find themselves tethered by the same goal of  Sanders playingand earning a living in the NFL

Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles praised Sanders’ hunger but made it clear this week would be decisive. “This week is very important,” Bowles said, pointing to Saturday’s preseason matchup against Buffalo as the type of stage where final roster decisions are cemented. Sanders, who signed a three-year deal worth nearly $3 million after going undrafted in April, has been fighting to prove he belongs on the 53-man roster.

For the Buccaneers, Sanders’ bankruptcy drama is a distraction only if it seeps into the locker room. On the field, he’s battling for depth in a safety room led by Antoine Winfield Jr. and Jordan Whitehead. Off the field, his case details the financial volatility young players sometimes bring into the league. 

If Sanders makes the 53-man roster, he’ll open the season Sept. 7 at Atlanta with a paycheck in hand and creditors watching closely. If he doesn’t, his future and Darjean’s chances of collection become far murkier.