Deion Sanders addresses coaching team without Shedeur, Shilo: 'Now I can just be the coach'

Deion Sanders made his 2025 debut as Colorado‘s head football coach during Wednesday’s session at Big 12 Media Days in Frisco, Texas. It was his first public appearance in several months while recovering from an unspecified medical situation at his Texas-based ranch.

And while he declined to get into any specifics about what kept him away from Boulder during the summer months, the 57-year-old Sanders made clear he’s approaching the 2025 season — his first without sons Shedeur and Shilo on the Colorado roster — like a brand new coach.

Shedeur Sanders is currently apart of a crowded Cleveland Browns quarterback room after getting selected in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, while Shilo Sanders is in camp with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after going undrafted following four seasons playing under their father — two at Colorado and two at Jackson State. This upcoming season will be Deion Sanders’ first as a collegiate head coach without one of his children on his roster.

“It’s easier for me, man, because I don’t have to be two things. I don’t have to be a father and the coach. Now I can just be the coach,” Deion Sanders told ESPN insider Pete Thamel at Big 12 Media Days on ESPN. “And I don’t have to look and make sure I’m dad and he’s doing his job, and I’m a dad and he’s doing his job on the defensive side. Now I can just focus on these young men.

“I love so many of them like they are my sons, I truly do, and some of them act like they’re my sons, but I don’t have any biological sons on the team right now. But I’m proud of them, and I love the challenge. I do.”

Deion Sanders on replacing Shedeur Sanders, Travis Hunter: ‘We have a better team’

Deion Sanders might have lost his two best players — quarterback Shedeur Sanders and receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter — from last season, but the Colorado coach believes he has a better overall team.

Deion Sanders didn’t deny that replacing his two stars will be challenging, likely taking multiple different players to make up for the losses. But at the same time, the third-year Buffaloes coach believes this year’s squad will be a lot more well-rounded.

“They were great players; we have a better team,” Sanders said in an appearance on ESPN at Big 12 Media Days. “There’s a difference between great players and a great team. We have a better team, but we can never replace those type of players.”

Hunter became the No. 2 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft after winning the Heisman Trophy this past season as a rare two-way player. Hunter led Colorado with 96 catches for 1,258 yards and 15 touchdowns, while also adding 36 tackles, four interceptions, 11 passes defended and a forced fumbled on defense. He totaled 2,625 snaps in his two seasons in Boulder, leading the FBS.

Shedeur Sanders was equally impactful, leading the country with a 74% completion rate and leading the Big 12 with 4,134 yards passing and 37 touchdowns. The Buffaloes added Liberty transfer Kaidon Salter and four-star freshman Julian Lewis in the QB room, with one expected to be Shedeur’s successor.

“It may take three players on offense to replace a Travis Hunter,” Deion Sanders said. “It may take two players to replace a Shedeur Sanders, and that’s what we brought here. We feel like we have a better defense for sure. A better offense, more understanding of the schemes collectively offensively and defensively because each coach, they’re in their second year in the schemes now.”

— On3’s Chandler Vessels contributed to this report.