Report: Deion Sanders demoted Colorado OC Pat Shurmur after Utah loss
Deion Sanders reportedly demoted Colorado offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur, stripping his play-calling duties, following the 53-7 loss to Utah. USA Today’s Brent Schrotenboer reported it happened after the game, but before another blowout loss to Arizona the following week.
Shurmur was quietly demoted to quarterback’s coach, according to the report. The change didn’t help Sanders and crew against Arizona, when the Buffaloes lost 52-17 and dropped to 3-6.
“The person didn’t want to be named because of the sensitivity of the situation,” Schrotenboer wrote. “The person said Colorado tight ends coach and passing game coordinator Brett Bartolone has called plays instead of Shurmur since the Utah game.”
This isn’t the first time Sanders made a change at play-caller. He promoted Shurmur in 2023 to co-offensive coordinator in ordet to call plays while taking the duties away from Sean Lewis. Lewis eventually left to become the head coach at San Diego State.
Shurmur originally joined Colorado’s staff in 2023 as an analyst after previously serving as the Denver Broncos’ OC from 2020-21. He was also the head coach of the New York Giants (2018-19) and Cleveland Browns (2011-12) in his career, in addition to numerous stops around the NFL.
Shurmur began his career in college football, coaching at Michigan State and Stanford before joining the Philadelphia Eagles’ staff in 1999 and not returning to college football until 2023 under Sanders.
Ahead of Colorado’s upcoming game against West Virginia, Sanders shared that Colorado is turning to Julian Lewis at quarterback. The highly touted recruit now looks to spark what has been a struggling offense for the Buffaloes this season.
“We have a freshman that is going to start for us [Julian “JuJu” Lewis],” Deion Sanders said. “They [West Virginia] have a freshman QB starting for them.”
Sanders would attribute the move to “Common sense… common sense.” He also noted that Lewis is healthy, despite concerns he had banged up his hand during last Saturday’s game.
