Deion Sanders

The Tennessee Titans have the top pick in the 2025 NFL draft and need a long-term answer at quarterback, so it comes as no surprise they are reportedly doing their due diligence on Shedeur Sanders.

And some of that due diligence reportedly involves talking to the quarterback prospect's famous father as well.

Jeff Howe of The Athletic reported Friday that the Titans met with Sanders for "a longer time than usual" at the East-West Shrine Bowl last week. The meeting lasted approximately an hour and involved Hall of Famer Deion Sanders calling into it.

The elder Sanders coached his son at Colorado and certainly understands how the draft process works given his own career and time around the game.

Howe also noted "it's believed by some that" the Titans prefer Cam Ward if they are going to use that top pick on a quarterback. However, it would be wise for the front office to meet with both prospects even if that is the case to gather as much information as possible.

Any meeting involving Deion Sanders is notable since the Buffaloes head coach said there are "a couple of teams that I won't allow him to play for" when talking about his son earlier this month during an appearance on the Tamron Hall Show (h/t Brent Schrotenboer of USA Today).

Involving him in such a long meeting suggests the Titans likely aren't one of those teams.

B/R's NFL Scouting Department projected Tennessee to select Sanders with the top pick in a mock draft earlier this month, although the process is just getting started. Both he and Ward will have opportunities at pro days and the NFL Scouting Combine to make worthwhile impressions, and they could also be battling with non-quarterbacks such as Abdul Carter and Travis Hunter for that top pick.

But Sanders is at least on the Titans' radar at this point.

The Cleveland Browns aren't worried about Colorado head coach Deion Sanders preventing his son, Shedeur, from playing for the AFC North team should it choose the former Buffaloes quarterback with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft.

"I don't anticipate that being a problem," Browns general manager Andrew Berry said, per Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com.

It was a question because of comments Deion Sanders made earlier this month during an appearance on the Tamron Hall Show (h/t Brent Schrotenboer of USA Today).

"It's not like that," Sanders said when asked if he told his sons who he wants them to play for at the next level. "It's not like who I would like for him to play for. It's a couple of teams that I won't allow him to play for. So it's not like that. But this is my profession. I know what's behind the curtain. We ain't got to get back there for me to understand what's behind the curtain and what's not prominent for my son. I'm not doing it."

Cleveland would be a logical destination for Sanders.

After all, it is coming off a 3-14 season with no long-term answer at the quarterback position. The Deshaun Watson addition has been abysmal to say the least, and he may not be available for the 2025 season after tearing his Achilles for a second time.

That leaves more questions than answers, and it's no surprise the Browns were one of the teams to meet with Sanders at the East-West Shrine Bowl.

"Shedeur is a really impressive young man," Berry said. "He's poised, he's calm, he's smart and you can tell that he's been raised by—quite honestly—a Hall of Fame dad. We're going to get to know him even more over the course of the spring, but he's really impressive."

Earlier this month, B/R's NFL Scouting Department ranked Sanders as the second-best quarterback in this draft behind only Miami's Cam Ward. However, it projected the Tennessee Titans to take Sanders and the Browns to end up with Ward in its latest mock draft.

The Sanders situation will be worth monitoring ahead of the draft, especially as he begins to solidify himself as a potential top pick. That his father just so happens to be a Hall of Famer who turned heads with comments suggesting he could prevent the signal-caller from playing somewhere only adds another layer.

That is especially true with the Browns given past comments from Deion Sanders:

Still, that social-media post was from nearly seven years ago when the Cleveland front office looked quite different. Berry had nothing but positive things to say about both of the Sanders, and the AFC North team will surely continue to evaluate the situation as the draft approaches.

When the Dallas Cowboys began their head coaching search, Deion Sanders was one of the first names in the mix and was seemingly a serious candidate.

But on Monday at new head coach Brian Schottenheimer's introductory press conference, owner Jerry Jones and executive vice president Stephen Jones had conflicting answers about Sanders' legitimacy as a candidate.

According to DLLS Cowboys' Joseph Hoyt, Stephen Jones said Sanders was a serious candidate and that both he and Jerry Jones "think the world of" Sanders. Per The Athletic's Jon Machota, Jerry Jones differed in his answer, saying that Sanders "was never a serious candidate."

When asked about his conversation with Sanders, Jerry Jones said Sanders "already has a job," via Machota.

Just hours after the Cowboys and former head coach Mike McCarthy parted ways on Jan. 13, Fox Sports' Jordan Schultz reported that Jerry Jones had spoken with Sanders about becoming Dallas' next head coach. Schultz noted that Sanders was considered a top candidate at the time, and there was mutual interest.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport later reported that Sanders and the Cowboys were still in talks, but did not plan to have a formal interview.

Sanders, now preparing for his third year at Colorado, spent five seasons with the Cowboys from 1995 to 1999, winning a Super Bowl in 1995.

It's hard to say why Jerry Jones never considered Sanders a serious candidate, but if his goal was to generate storylines, he certainly accomplished it.

Now Sanders will stick with the Buffaloes, who he made significant progress with during the 2024 season. Colorado, which went 1-11 the season before Sanders' arrival, improved from 4-8 in 2023 to 9-4 this season. The Buffs were an upset loss against Kansas away from reaching the Big 12 championship and potentially the College Football Playoff.

Had Sanders landed the job in Dallas, it would have meant leaving behind what he's built in Boulder. He'll instead get to continue leading Colorado and perhaps will be ready for his first NFL gig in a few years.

The Cowboys, meanwhile, are hoping Schottenheimer can take them to the promised land after years of disappointment. Jerry Jones clearly thinks highly of the longtime assistant if he was willing to give him his first head coaching job over candidates like Sanders.

Former Dallas Cowboys star Michael Irvin believes Jerry Jones made a mistake by not hiring Deion Sanders as the team's next head coach.

The Cowboys announced Friday that offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer would replace former head coach Mike McCarthy.

"Here's my issue: We lost an opportunity here," Irvin said Saturday on his YouTube channel (2:50 mark of the video above.) "I don't know what will happen with Coach Schottenheimer and the Dallas Cowboys, but Jerry's a shrewd, shrewd businessman, and this opportunity, I'm shocked he did not see.

"I was pushing for Deion Sanders to be the next head coach, and I still stand ten toes down on that push."

Sanders led Colorado to a 9-4 record this fall, two years after taking over the program following a 1-11 run in 2022.

Now that his sons Shedeur and Shilo Sanders are leaving the program this spring, Sanders has said he would consider taking a job in the NFL next season.

Schottenheimer first joined the Cowboys in 2022 as a consultant alongside former defensive coordinator Dan Quinn.

He was promoted to offensive coordinator after Kellen Moore was fired following the 2022 season.

Irvin was unimpressed with the Cowboys' decision to hire someone who had both been with the team for two seasons without a playoff win, and had never had head coaching experience at any level.

Sanders, who has never coached in the NFL, has six seasons of experience in college coaching at Jackson State and Colorado.

"You're bringing in someone that was already inside as the head coach. You lose things there, that you can't grab back," Irvin said.

Irvin continued: "They don't have curfew. They don't have discipline. They were fourth in penalties issued. So, how do you fix that? You go an be more disciplined, or be more of a disciplinarian. How do you do that when you're coming from the inside?"

Irvin later summed up the issue with the question: "How do you do the same damn thing and get something different?"

"That's why hiring Deion was the right call," Irvin concluded. "The Raiders hired Pete Carroll, he had some experience. Last time, when we did Mike McCarthy, he had some experience. I got to slap myself, and say, 'Give it a chance, man, at least they walked the walk already.'

"Brian hadn't walked no walk. So what does he got over Deion?"

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported the day before Schottenheimer's hiring (h/t On3's Dan Morrison) that the talks about Sanders had "quieted," but that Jones "knows Deion Sanders is always there."

Jones instead decided to promote from within, a decision that especially frustrated Irvin given that two of the Cowboys' NFC East rivals— the Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Commanders— are currently one win away from playing in the Super Bowl.

So are the Kansas City Chiefs. Irvin said the Cowboys are at risk of losing the nickname America's Team to the Chiefs.

That is especially a risk given the support the Chiefs have received from Taylor Swift and Caitlin Clark, Irvin said, before noting that he is a fan of both.

"A third of Cowboys nation has never felt or lived the glory of a championship story. Don't even know about it... a generation that knows nothing about a championship from the so-called America's Team," Irvin said. "And worse yet, that generation has seen total domination from a team named the Kansas City Chiefs.

"So, not only are you losing football games over here, and opportunities over here, even divisions over here, you're about to get our moniker snatched off our backs."

The Cowboys have been eliminated from playoff contention from over a month. The team will now wait to see if the Schottenheimer hiring is enough to help them compete with the Eagles and Commanders next season.

Shedeur Sanders is unsure if he will throw at the NFL scouting combine next month in Indianapolis, per ESPN's Daniel Oyefusi.

After meeting with the three teams holding the top picks in the 2025 NFL Draft—Tennessee, Cleveland and the New York Giants—the former Colorado Buffalos quarterback is now focused on letting his words speak louder than his skills.

"I like that I'm able to get in the forefront of everything and they're able to understand me and ask me whatever questions they want," Sanders said, per Oyefusi. "I'm not ducking. I ain't hiding. I'm right here, live in the flesh and able to answer whatever questions are out there."

While Shedeur is attending the East-West Shrine Bowl, he will not participate in Thursday's game, instead choosing to watch from the sideline.

The 6'2" quarterback remains confident in his potential to be the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft as he trains in Dallas alongside another top quarterback prospect, Miami's Cam Ward, per Oyefusi.

"We changed the program at Jackson (State University)," Shedeur said, per Oyefusi. "We went to Colorado, changed the program. And we did everything people didn't think we were able to do. So, that's why I know I'm the most guaranteed risk you can take."

Shedeur finished his senior year with the Buffs throwing for 4,134 yards and 37 touchdowns while holding a quarterback rating of 75.5.

The son of Deion Sanders—the fifth overall pick in the 1989 NFL Draft—expressed gratitude for the opportunities ahead, saying, "I'll be thankful for whatever situation and whoever drafts me. I know I'll be able to change their program." He added that he hopes to bring "a lot of wins" to whichever team he joins, per Oyefusi.

Deion has faced criticism after reportedly joining his son's meeting with the Tennessee Titans via FaceTime. However, Shedeur did not have an issue with his father's involvement after the meeting went well.

ESPN's Turron Davenport stated, "He made a good impression on them. They really like his personality, feel he's very mature. Deion hit him on FaceTime during the meeting."

"I didn't know your parents being involved and wanting the best for you is a problem," Shedeur told reporters. "I think as parents, each and every one would want the best for their kids. The fact that he has the opportunity to do that for me and he has the best quarterback in the country, he's supposed to do that."

Despite the Sanders' confidence, the Bleacher Report scouting department projects Shedeur to be drafted No. 16 overall in the 2025 NFL Draft, scheduled for April 24th.

The signature shoes of Colorado head coach and Pro Football Hall of Fame defensive back Deion Sanders have made a return.

Sanders' Air Nike Diamond Turf 1 sneakers released online at 10 a.m. ET on Friday for $150 on Nike's website and were eventually sold out later in the afternoon (h/t USA Today's Jonathan Limehouse).

The Atlanta Falcons, one of Sanders' former teams during his NFL career, announced a shoe giveaway on social media.

The Diamond Turf 1 was originally introduced in 1994, representing Sanders' first signature sneaker. Per Nike's website, the latest release of the shoe features "Air units in the heel and forefoot, plus durable leather and a midfoot strap for a secure fit."

Sanders' relationship with the company turned sour after his playing days came to a close, although both sides worked things out prior to his first season with the Buffaloes in 2023 (via USA Today's Brent Schrotenboer).

Colorado is coming off a successful 2024 campaign under its head coach, as the team's 9-4 record represented the school's first year with at least nine wins since 2016. Buffaloes two-way standout Travis Hunter also became the first Buffaloes player to win the Heisman Trophy since 1994.

As Sanders prepares for his third season in Boulder, his iconic sneakers were released on Friday.

Colorado self-reported an NCAA recruiting violation after the name of Julian "JuJu" Lewis was mentioned on the school's weekly coaching show with head coach Deion Sanders in November, according to Brent Schrotenboer of USA Today, prior to Lewis signing with the Buffs in December

Per that report, Colorado "decided to stop livestreaming its weekly coaches show with Sanders and also removed two episodes of the show from YouTube last fall."

Coaches are not permitted to publicize recruits before those players are signed at the school, though it is considered a minor offense unless it is deemed an ongoing pattern. At the time Lewis was mentioned on the program, he had committed but was not yet eligible to officially sign, making it a violation.

After Lewis' commitment in November, host Mark Johnson alluded to the news but didn't mention the player by name while asking Sanders how he approaches communicating with recruits and their families.

"Hey, get JuJu on the phone and get his pop on the phone," Sanders replied as an example. "See if his dad want to come down and just sit down and chop it up with me. [His father] sat in my office I think a few weeks ago for a couple hours. I said, 'C,mon, give it all to me because I know you've got a bunch of questions on your mind. Let's go.' And we did that. And he walked away feeling really comfortable about where we're headed."

In the second incident, a second host mentioned Lewis by name, though Sanders did not. Both episodes were removed from YouTube.

Alongside self-reporting the situation, Colorado docked itself four recruiting-person days in spring 2025 and had Sanders undergo further education surrounding recruiting rules.

Colorado also said it would "implement new institutional controls on the football weekly coaches show. The content will no longer be livestreamed. External relations will therefore be able to review and edit content that could be construed as impermissible publicity of (recruits)."

Since Sanders was hired in Dec. 2022, the Buffs have self-reported 17 minor infractions in total to the NCAA. All were considered minor breaches of technicalities within the recruiting process and didn't result in significant penalties.

"We take all infractions seriously, regardless of the severity, and in these specific cases, these minor infractions were all self-reported to the NCAA," the school said in a statement. "This demonstrates the effectiveness of our established compliance systems which are the basis of our department's positive partnership with the NCAA."

Colorado has reportedly "stepped up pretty significantly" for head coach Deion Sanders amid reports that he and Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones have talked Dallas' open head coaching position.

Bruce Feldman of The Athletic reported the latest on the Rich Eisen Show.

"I heard Colorado has stepped up pretty significantly...for him," Feldman said when Eisen asked if Sanders was "going anywhere or staying put."

"I know Rick George, the AD, has a lot of value for Deion and what he's meant to the program. Not only what he's meant to the program, what it's meant to the school, meant to the state. All of it..."

Fox Sports' Jordan Schultz first reported the Jones-Sanders talks.

However, the latest news from Jon Machota of The Athletic suggests that Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore is "the front-runner right now" for the job.

The team also just brought in Cowboys offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer for a second interview, per NFL Network.

DallasCowboys.com staff writer Patrik Walker provided more insight.

Putting it altogether, one can surmise that Moore and Schottenheimer (perhaps in that order) are one-two in the race, with everyone else far behind.

Even though Dallas may not end up being Sanders' landing spot in 2025, his success has led to rumors and speculation that he could leave Colorado for other opportunities.

Of note, Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported on Jan. 11 that Sanders "has a very strong interest" in the Las Vegas Raiders' head coaching job.

However, it appears that Sanders could very well be staying in Boulder at this point. That's a huge win for Colorado, which was 1-11 in 2022 (the year before Sanders' arrival) before improving to 9-4 (and the No. 25 spot in the final Association Press poll) this season.

Sanders signed a five-year, $29.5 million contract with the school before the 2022 season. But given his success, the Feldman report and the threat of a leave to the NFL, one can assume that Sanders could be getting a much-deserved raise and a reworked deal.

While Shedeur Sanders is gearing up for the NFL draft this spring, his father's name has been at the forefront of NFL rumors in recent weeks.

After the Dallas Cowboys parted ways with head coach Mike McCarthy, Deion Sanders quickly emerged as a top candidate for the position. Amid speculation that Sanders could leave Colorado for the NFL, Shedeur gave his thoughts on the matter.

"It's not really up to me. I don't really have a say in anything at all," Shedeur said (9:50 mark). "I'm coming into the league, I don't have too much of a say so. I'm just thankful for whatever situation comes."

While Shedeur won't try to influence his decision, it seems Sanders could be heading to Dallas if he gets the offer. According to NFL insider Ed Werder, Sanders "would almost certainly accept" the position if it were offered to him. Werder also reported that many around Sanders are "encouraging him to pursue it."

Whether Sanders is an NFL coach will not impact whether Shedeur plays at the next level as the Colorado star quarterback is widely projected to be one of the first players off the board. Bleacher Report's NFL Scouting Department projects Shedeur to go to the Tennessee Titans with the first overall pick.