Colorado Buffaloes football coach Deion Sanders traditionally hasn’t been one to pass up any chance to be in the spotlight.
So when the 57-year-old two-time Super Bowl champion abruptly canceled his speaking engagement Sickle Cell Disease Research & Educational Symposia over the weekend, fans were likely concerned.
“Due to an unavoidable last-minute scheduling change, our originally scheduled Foundation Keynote Speaker, Deion Sanders ‘Coach Prime,’ is unable to attend,” the foundation posted on X while announcing Los Angeles Lakers legend Magic Johnson would take his spot. “We are grateful for his support and look forward to future opportunities to welcome him.”
Sanders has also been a no-show at Colorado’s summer football camps in Boulder—events he attended in person each of the last two years—while he’s been away at his home in Canyon, Texas, tending to health issues.
While it’s not known what those exact health issues are, Sanders’ eldest son, Deion Sanders Jr., confirmed that his father was dealing with some health problems during a YouTube livestream on Sunday afternoon, according to USA Today.
“He’ll tell y’all soon enough what he’s going through, what he went through,” Deion Jr. stated, acknowledging that his dad was “feeling well.”
“When we get back to Boulder, I don’t know. I’m waiting until my dad leaves. When he leaves, then I’ll go. Until then, I’m going to sit here with him.”
Aside from a recent appearance on former New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Asante Samuel’s “Say What Needs to Be Said” podcast, Sanders has stayed out of the public eye since the 2025 NFL draft, where he was featured prominently on television as cameras panned to his family’s house several times as his son Shedeur waited to hear his name called.
On Samuel’s podcast, Sanders admitted that he’s dropped quite a bit of weight over the last few months, presumably because of whatever medical condition he’s dealing with.
“I’ve done no media,” Sanders remarked. “I’ve done nothing for a minute. So coming on with you is something. I ain’t been in front of nobody for a minute. I lost about 14 pounds. I’m coming back, but I needed this.”
Sanders has had his share of health difficulties as of late.
He’s had two toes amputated and part of his left calf removed, and two years ago, Sanders missed a Pac-12 Conference media event due to blood clots in his legs.
Read the full article here
