Colorado AD Rick George pushes back on claim that Deion Sanders is on hot seat
Outgoing Colorado athletic director Rick George just poured cold water on any speculation that third-year head football coach Deion Sanders is on the hot seat. Speculation about Sanders’ future in Boulder has become a hot topic of late amid a disappointing 3-win season in 2025.
“The seat is not hot,” George quote-tweeted a fan that suggested the contrary. “We believe in what is ahead for this program.”
The fan George quote-tweeted was responding to a viral video of Sanders emphatically promising he’s “the right man” to lead Colorado’s football program and imploring fans to give him “a little more time” to prove it. With just two games remaining this season, the Buffaloes (3-7, 1-6 Big 12) failed to qualify for bowl eligibility for the 16th time in the past 20 years, including now twice during Sanders’ three seasons in Boulder.
“Please understand, if anybody is built for adversity, I am. If anybody is built for change, I am. If anybody is built to overcome situations and trials and tribulations, I am,” Sanders said Tuesday. “You’ve got the right man. I promise you, you do. And I’m going to prove that to you. I am. Just give me an opportunity and a little more time and I’m going to prove that to you. I will. I promise you that.”
Rumors about Sanders’ future has picked up in the days since George announced his plan to retire as Colorado’s AD in July before transitioning into a special advisor role for the school’s new chancellor and athletic director last week.
Rick George addresses Deion Sanders’ future at Colorado after news he would be stepping down
The rumors circling around the 58-year-old Sanders’ status in Boulder have come amid his multiple struggles on- and off-the-field, especially given his repeated health battles with blood clots and bladder cancer. Of course, a change in leadership would then be another challenge to overcome. So, following his own retirement announcement last Thursday, George addressed what he knows about Sanders’ future.
“Look, Coach Prime’s committed here,” George said last week. “I think everybody looks for a reason that he’s gonna leave. Coach and I have a really good relationship. We talked about this Wednesday night. He kind of knew it was coming but he and I talked about it and my commitment to him was I want to help him get this thing back on track. It’s not like it’s off track, like a lot of people think.”
This offseason, Sanders agreed to a five-year contract extension. He also spent more time away from the team than he had initially anticipated , while battling bladder cancer this summer. Sanders underwent 14 surgeries that included a complete removal of his bladder that has left him incontinent. However, despite that setback with his health, Sanders has been all-in on coaching Colorado this season.
— On3’s Dan Morrison contributed to this report.
