Deion Sanders rejects narrative that he faced death in cancer diagnosis: 'We've got to win a championship'

Deion Sanders held a press conference on Monday, where he revealed battled bladder cancer earlier this year. The Colorado head coach has been cured of the cancer after surgery, and will be ready to rock in 2025.

Anytime the word cancer is thrown around, there’s some grim thoughts that enter a person’s mind. However, Sanders rejected that notion, delivering an inspiring quote that’ll fire up Buffaloes fans for the coming season, as well.

“I didn’t stare death in the face, I stared life in the face,” Sanders stated. “You think I’m playing when I tell you, I’m God’s guy. I really am. I’m allowed to go through these trials and tribulations so that I could touch and reach and bless people with my words. With the energy. With that thing that God gave me. So, I never thought about no death.

“You know, I can make a will because I want to be a good steward, you know, for my kids and for my family. But no, I’ve got too much life to be thinking about death. Too much life. I got too much life in me. I’ve got work to do. We’ve got to win a championship, and you’re talking about death? No, God definitely isn’t ready to take me before that.”

That’s classic Coach Prime, and part of the reason he’s equipped to handle such a full plate. Moving forward, he’s going to continue being an inspiration to his players and many others in college football, all while trying to bring Colorado to the forefront of the sport.

He’s entering his third season at the helm of the Buffaloes. After posting a 4-8 record in his debut campaign at Colorado, Sanders led the Buffaloes to an outstanding 9-4 season in 2024.

Additionally, Colorado posted a 7-2 record in its first season against Big 12 competition and nearly reached the conference championship game. With the team’s top stars over the past couple of seasons in Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders moving onto the NFL this offseason, Sanders will have to find new ways to win this fall. Alas, he’s excited for the challenge.

“They were great players. We have a better team,” Sanders said 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.”

We’ll see what Deion Sanders has in store for 2025. He’s already conquered one challenge. Everything on the football field is small potatoes compared to cancer.