The 2025 NFL Draft was expected to be a celebratory moment for the Sanders family, but it instead unfolded into a surprising and humbling weekend.
Shedeur Sanders, once projected as a first-round pick, fell to the fifth round, landing with the Cleveland Browns at 144th overall. Meanwhile, his brother Shilo Sanders went undrafted before signing with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. As the dust settles, attention now shifts to how these developments impact their father, Deion Sanders, and his future coaching trajectory.
What’s next for Deion Sanders?
Deion Sanders, or “Coach Prime,” has been a transformative figure at both Jackson State and Colorado, prompting speculation that an NFL job might eventually lure him away from the college game.
With his sons now stepping into the professional ranks separately, questions arose about whether Deion might follow them into the league.
However, this weekend’s events suggest otherwise.
Throughout the pre-draft process, some wondered if Deion’s strong presence and proactive involvement hurt Shedeur’s standing with NFL teams.
Cleveland Browns General Manager Andrew Berry addressed this speculation head-on, stating, “I felt like our personal relationship and interactions with Deion, that’s really been all positive from our perspective… We don’t typically penalize prospects for their parents, so to speak. So I can’t say if that was a factor or not for other teams. But that was not a significant factor for us.”
In an exclusive interview with EssentiallySports, college football analyst Adam Breneman added his perspective, suggesting Deion’s coaching style is much better suited to the collegiate atmosphere.
“It’s a fun storyline, but I don’t see Deion leaving for the NFL right now. He thrives in college – where he can recruit, build culture, and be the face of the program. That’s his superpower,”Breneman said.
Now, with Shedeur and Shilo on separate teams and no immediate family tie anchoring him to the NFL, Sanders appears poised to continue his work at Colorado.
The upcoming season will be particularly telling, as Deion will lead a Buffaloes team for the first time without either of his sons or star player Travis Hunter.
It’s a pivotal moment: the 2025 season could ultimately serve as a referendum on whether “Coach Prime” is destined to stay in college or someday make the leap to the pros.
For now, however, Deion Sanders remains firmly entrenched in Boulder, focused on building his program rather than chasing NFL ambitions.
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