Colorado just dodged a bullet. After a tough 3–9 season last year and Deion Sanders’ health getting worse, the team went through a difficult time. He had cancer surgery and could not stay with the team last spring. Even this spring, he faced some health issues again, but now he is feeling much better and recovering well, giving the team hope moving forward.
Deion Sanders said he recently had another medical procedure because of blood clots. This happened about three weeks ago. He also revealed that he is feeling fine now and recovering well. Because of the procedure, he had to stay away from the team for a few days, around two to three days, before returning.
“I’m good. Clots. Blood clots. I’m good. “I’m good,” Deion Sanders said to the media after the spring game. “What was that? Three weeks ago. Three weeks ago. Three weeks ago. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you guys. I apologize.”
Things haven’t been great in terms of health for Deion Sanders for a while now. Starting in 2021, Deion Sanders began having serious problems with blood clots. These become so severe that doctors have to amputate two toes on his left foot. After that, he goes through several surgeries on his legs and feet over the next few years to treat these issues.
Then, in 2025, doctors find that he has an aggressive form of bladder cancer. He has a major surgery to remove his bladder, and thankfully, the operation is successful. After this, he takes care of his health and does not need any big procedures for some time, until a recent hospital visit again for blood clots. Due to this long recovery, he was not able to meet some of the new players until preseason practice started.
Even after going through all these serious health problems, Sanders continues to stay strong and keeps leading the Colorado football team.
“Everybody inside these doors could tell you it’s different when I’m here,” Sanders said. “I’m gonna go fishing, believe that. … I’m gonna take my breaks like every other coach. But I love to be here, anyway.”
Missing last year’s spring window clearly stung him. While he brushed off the recent blood clot scare as minor, his immediate return sends a loud message. Sanders knows his absence stalls team chemistry. Being on the sidelines right now is a total non-negotiable for Colorado’s rebuild.
His fierce drive to stay on the field also fuels his frustration with the rest of college football. While Sanders fought hard just to get back out there this spring, he hates seeing healthy rival programs cancel their spring games just to hide from the transfer portal.
Deion Sanders’ take on the spring game
The spring doesn’t hold the kind of value it used to before, as teams are either not hosting the game or making it private. Why? The answer is pretty simple: saving players from injury and getting poached. Because of that, even fans lost interest in it, and that was pretty visible in Colorado’s spring game.
At the game, the lower seats on the east side of the stadium are mostly full, but the upper seats are not very crowded. This is partly planned because the west side of the stadium is completely closed, so only about half the stadium is being used. Because everyone is sitting on just one side, the crowd looks smaller than usual. Even though some areas are full, overall it feels much less crowded.
Talking about it, Deion Sanders expressed his dissatisfaction.
“That’s not just us,” Sanders said after the scrimmage. “No one’s valuing spring (football games) anymore. You’ve got several major colleges that do not even have spring games. The only thing that would bring it back is if we compete against another school.”
Last year, Matt Rhule cancelled his spring game because of tampering, then teams like Texas. Ohio State also did the same. But Deion Sanders has never been in favor of it; he has always welcomed competition.
Yet it’s not about teams anymore; it’s about fans who are losing interest in spring games because players keep changing teams and games feel repetitive. Even then, Sanders is trying to bring in culture and trying to save what can be.
