Deion Sanders health update: Latest news on Colorado coach after cancer diagnosis

Teddy Ricketson

Deion Sanders health update: Latest news on Colorado coach after cancer diagnosis image

Deion Sanders announced in the offseason that he had been dealing with an aggressive form of bladder cancer, but during a press conference on July 28, the Colorado coach said that he was cancer-free at that time. 

Before the press conference, all that was known to the public was that Sanders had been dealing with a health situation. During the college football offseason, he didn't go out on the recruiting trail and wasn't in Boulder. Instead, he was back at his home in Texas getting medical treatment and recovering. 

There was concern that Sanders wasn't going to be able to coach given his absence, but during his press conference, he confirmed that not only was his cancer gone, but also that he would still be the head coach for the Buffaloes for the 2025 season. 

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Here are the latest health updates for Sanders after his cancer diagnosis.

MORE: Complete timeline of Deion Sanders' health issues

Deion Sanders health update

Sanders appears to be in good spirits since revealing the cancer battle that he overcame. When detailing what he went through, the head coach said that in order to get past his cancer, he had to have his bladder removed. Surgeons were able to make a new bladder for the coach from his intestines, and the procedure is not expected to hamper his ability to coach on the sidelines. 

Since his diagnosis, Sanders has returned to Boulder and has been leading preseason practices. On Aug. 26, he named Kaidon Salter the team's starting quarterback for the Buffaloes' first game against Georgia Tech, which is a big deal since Sanders' son Shedeur had been under center for his first two seasons at CU.

We don't know exactly when Sanders had his surgery, but he recovered at his home in Texas in May and June. During that time, he shared what he was going through with his family, but he kept the details private. However, during his offseason press conference, Sanders made clear that he now "depends on Depends" to get through the day. 

For now, Sanders has no traces of cancer, and his focus is on a successful season as Colorado navigates how to win without Shedeur and Travis Hunter. The head coach has also become an outspoken advocate for going to the doctor and getting screened for all types of medical issues, including cancer, to try and catch them early. 

Teddy Ricketson

Teddy Ricketson is a Digital Content Producer at The Sporting News. He joined the team in 2024 after spending the last three years writing for Vox Media as part of its DK Nation/Network team. Teddy does his best to support the South Carolina Gamecocks and Carolina Panthers, but tends to have more fun cheering on the Atlanta Braves. In his free time, he loves spending time with his wife, Brooke, and their two dogs, Bo and Hootie.