Aug 29, 2024; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders before the game against the North Dakota State Bison at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

Father of Bucs rookie dealing with unspecified health issue

Originally posted on Tampa Bay Buccaneers on SI
By Logan Robinson | Last updated Jun 11, 2025 8:00 AM ET

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers added a few of the most notable undrafted rookies on the open market earlier this offseason.

Considering his last name and growing spotlight, there's obviously a lot of attention on former Colorado standout and Buccaneers safety, Shilo Sanders. To his credit, Sanders has done all the right things publicly since not being selected during the 2025 NFL Draft in April.

Head coach Todd Bowles was quick to praise Sanders at rookie minicamp last month. It's clear he has a legitimate shot to stick with the Buccaneers if he stays on this track going into training camp.

The son of legendary two-sport athlete turned college football head coach, Deion Sanders, the undrafted rookie had the best two years of his career while playing for his father at Colorado.

A polarizing figure himself, Deion Sanders has settled in with the Colorado Buffaloes, continuing his rise on the coaching scene. However, he's battled plenty of health issues over the past few years, including blood clots that resulted in the amputation of two toes on his left foot.

Leading up to his third year with the Buffaloes, Sanders is dealing with an unspecified illness, per ESPN's Heather Dinich. The issue has resulted in Sanders missing the beginning of summer camps which are a vital time for colleges to evaluate prospective recruits.

Sanders was also slated to be the keynote speaker at the annual symposium for the Foundation for Sickle Cell Disease Research. The organization revealed that he was unable to attend three days before the event as Sanders was replaced by NBA legend Magic Johnson.

According to one of his other sons, Deion Sanders Jr., the former NFL and MLB star is beginning to feel more like himself.

“He’ll tell y’all soon enough what he going through, what he went through,” Sanders Jr. said while live on YouTube. "When we get back in Boulder, I don’t know, I’m waiting until my dad leaves. When he leaves, then I’ll go. Until then, I’m gonna sit here with him.”

That's certainly positive news as Sanders is likely doing everything in his power to get back to his duties while supporting his two sons who are playing in the NFL.