Deion Sanders downplayed his NFL future by stating, “I couldn’t coach pro ball,” during a recent episode of his television series. The head coach of the Colorado Buffaloes emphasized the stark differences between the current professional football landscape and the rigorous practices of his playing days.
In the show titled “We Got Time Today,” available on Tubi, Sanders engaged in a lively discussion with Troy Aikman, his former teammate with the Dallas Cowboys and a fellow Hall of Famer. They shared memories from their Super Bowl triumph and discussed Sanders’ conversation with Cowboys owner Jerry Jones regarding the team’s head coaching opening, which ultimately went to Brian Schottenheimer.
Sanders reflected on how practice routines have evolved over the years. He recalled how Aikman was determined to keep the ball off the ground, how he himself was unwilling to concede a catch, and how Michael Irvin would not allow a ball to drop. Emmitt Smith, he noted, would hit the hole and gain additional yards after every play, showcasing a level of commitment that he believes is lacking in today’s game.
“That’s the way we practiced,” Sanders remarked. “I know it’s cute, but I couldn’t coach pro ball. The way they practice, the way they go about it, I couldn’t take it — as a man, and as a football enthusiast. I care about the game. … There’s no way I could allow that to happen on my watch. That would be tough.”
Aikman added that having Sanders lead the Cowboys would have been a logical choice. “I was asked a lot of questions about how do you think Deion would do?” Aikman shared. “I said, ‘I think Deion would do great.’ There are a small handful of people that I know that I just simply would not bet against. And Deion is one of those handful of people. He’s proven it at every stop. He’d be successful in the NFL.”
Aikman, who celebrated a Super Bowl victory alongside Sanders in the 1995 season, emphasized that coaching in the NFL is different from influencing young athletes in college. “You’re not impressing upon young men the way that you are in college, but to suggest that he wouldn’t be good at it or successful at it, I don’t think people really know Deion’s story,” he stated. “For Dallas, Deion would’ve been a really good fit, because he would’ve commanded the room. His personality is such that people would’ve known he was in charge. It’s important for any organization to recognize that the head coach is the one calling the shots.”
As Sanders prepares the Buffaloes for the upcoming season after a successful 9-4 record and an Alamo Bowl appearance, he faces significant challenges. The loss of Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter and his quarterback son, Shedeur Sanders, who are projected to be high draft picks in the NFL, leaves him with considerable gaps to fill on his roster.
