Colorado and coach ‘Prime Time’ Deion Sanders have come to terms on a contract extension through the 2029 campaign that launches Sanders into the $10 million club as one of the 10 highest-paid coaches in college football. The five-year deal worth $54 million total will put Sanders at $10 million for 2025-26, $11 million for 2027-28 and $12 million on 2029, according to the Boulder Daily Camera.
Sanders most notably received reported interest from the NFL Dallas Cowboys in the last coaching cycle.
“I’m excited for the opportunity to continue building something special here at Colorado,” Sanders said in a statement. “We’ve just scratched the surface of what this program can be. It’s not just about football; it’s about developing young men who are ready to take on the world. I’m committed to bringing greatness to this university, on and off the field. We’ve got work to do, and I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else but here, making history with these incredible players and this passionate fan base. Lastly, anybody got at least a five-bedroom home with acreage for sale?”
Sanders is going into his third year at Colorado after spending the first three seasons of his collegiate coaching career at a HBCU, Jackson State University. The Buffaloes improved to 9-4 in 2024, their first winning record in a full 12-game season since 2016 and were on the cusp for an appearance in the Big 12 Championship Game with a 7-2 effort in conference play.
Colorado also finished the year ranked in both major polls for the first time in eight years. Sanders is now one game above .500, 13-12 with the Buffaloes.
While Colorado is on an upward trajectory under Sanders leadership, 2025 could be a very interesting transition year for the Buffaloes. Gone are star quarterback Shedeur Sanders and Heisman Trophy-winning, do-it-all playmaker Travis Hunter. Those two have earned as much praise and credit as anyone for Colorado’s rebuild and turnaround.
Embed from Getty ImagesSanders, Deion’s son, led the Big 12 and finished fourth nationally last season with 4,134 yards through the air. He also tossed a career-high 37 touchdowns to only 10 interceptions and surpassed 250 yards passing in all but two games. Now there is a slim chance Sanders will be the first quarterback chosen in April’s 2025 NFL Draft.
Hunter could hear his name called by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell well before Sanders, though. Hunter played both cornerback and wide receiver full-time for Colorado, and in addition to his 2024 Heisman win, became the first player in college football history to capture both the Biletnikoff Award as college football’s top receiver and the Bednarik Award as the sport’s top defensive player. He is truly a unicorn.
Colorado often went as far as the duo took them, and the two leave a gaping hole to fill with their parting. Colorado added some quarterback talent via high school recruiting (five-star prospect Julian Lewis and the transfer portal (former Liberty QB Kaidon Salter), while Hunter’s production will have to be accounted for by committee at different positions. Such was the impact he had.
The Buffaloes also must identify replacements for standout wide receiver Will Sheppard, top pass-rusher BJ Green II and safety Shilo Sanders, another of Deion’s sons. Not that Colorado is a stranger to roster overhaul under Sanders.
“Coach Prime has revolutionized college football and in doing so, has restored CU football to our rightful place as a national power,” Colorado athletic director Rick George said in a statement. “This extension not only recognizes coach’s incredible accomplishments transforming our program on and off the field, it keeps him in Boulder to compete for conference and national championships in the years to come.”
