Deion Sanders nearly brought to tears over heartwarming gesture by player originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Deion Sanders is preparing for a new chapter filled with both pride and emotion. The Colorado Buffaloes coach enters his third season in Boulder and first without either of his sons on the roster.
With Shedeur and Shilo now in the NFL, Sanders faces a bittersweet reality that for the first time in years, he won’t walk onto the field beside his sons. This is a tradition started during his days at Jackson State and carried on at Colorado.
Sanders’ symbolic moment of unity and fatherhood has become a pregame ritual and defining image of his coaching journey. But the familiar walk seemed destined to become a cherished memory rather than an ongoing tradition. However, one of Coach Prime’s players stepped up in an unexpected and deeply touching way.
“One of my kids, I’m not going to say who it was, came to me the other day,” Sanders recalled in a recent conversation on Asante Samuel’s podcast. “He said, ‘Coach Prime, you know that walk you did with Shedeur and Shilo, you know we still going to walk, right?’ I said, ‘Boy, you trying to make me cry, man.’”
The moment struck a chord with Sanders, who has faced enormous challenges this offseason, including beating bladder cancer. He has found comfort in a simple but powerful gesture. In a time of personal transformation, the willingness of a player to carry on a family tradition proved that bonds built on the field can run deep.
Related: Ex-NFL executive says Shedeur Sanders is “Ice skating uphill” in Cleveland
The player’s offer showed not only respect for Sanders’ legacy, but also a desire to uphold something meaningful. It was a statement that Sanders’ values have extended into the locker room.
Related: Todd Bowles hints at Shilo Sanders’ chances of make Buccaneers final roster
As Sanders moves ahead into the unknown, he can take solace in knowing he making an impact on his player’s lives. And sometimes, all it takes is one thoughtful act to remind a leader that his presence has made an impact far greater than wins or losses.
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Aug 2, 2025, where it first appeared.
