The Colorado Buffaloes are reportedly willing to pay a pretty penny to land Jackson State Tigers head coach Deion Sanders.
As previously noted, it has been reported that the Buffaloes and Cincinnati Bearcats are the two finalists to win the Sanders sweepstakes. The Bearcats’ head coach position became available after Luke Fickell left for the Wisconsin job.
In an update, Justin Adams of CBS News Colorado reports that Colorado will offer ‘Prime Time’ more than $5 million annually for their head coaching position. The offer also includes “a bevy of incentives”, according to the report:
“CBS News Colorado has learned the University of Colorado planned to offer Jackson State Head Football Coach Deion Sanders a starting salary of more than $5 million per year to become the next head coach of the Colorado Buffaloes.
“Three sources familiar with the negotiations say CU is also offering Sanders a bevy of incentives that if reached, could significantly elevate his annual salary. All three sources spoke on the condition of anonymity as they were not authorized by CU to release details of the tentative offer.”
The Pro Football Hall of Famer served as the offensive coordinator for the Trinity Christian School football team in Cedar Hill, Texas from 2017 to 2020. Sanders then left for his first college coaching gig, joining Jackson State in the 2020 season.
Sanders left Jackson to a 4-3 record in his first season on the job. They finished 11-2 in 2021 and defeated Prairie View A&M 27-10 in the SWAC Football Championship Game. The season concluded with a 31-10 loss to South Carolina in the Celebration Bowl.
Jackson State carries a perfect 11-0 record heading into Saturday’s 2022 SWAC Football Championship Game against the Southern Jaguars.
One of the most beloved NFL players of all time, Sanders revolutionized the cornerback position in the ’90s. The 1994 Defensive Player of the Year earned eight Pro Bowl selections and won Super Bowl championship rings with the San Francisco 49ers (1994) and Dallas Cowboys (1995).
Sanders spent his final NFL season with the Baltimore Ravens back in 2005. After his playing career, Prime Time enjoyed a successful analyst career with CBS and NFL Network. Sanders also enjoyed a productive career in Major League Baseball, helping Atlanta to a 1992 World Series appearance, where they eventually fell to the Toronto Blue Jas.
