A year ago, Deion Sanders was fighting a battle he couldn’t outwork, outcoach or outcompete.
The Colorado head coach was battling bladder cancer while still trying to lead a football program, inspire his players and maintain the energy that has made Coach Prime one of the most recognizable figures in sports.
This week, Sanders delivered the update Colorado fans have been hoping to hear. “I’m cancer free,” Sanders said during an appearance on Good Morning America. “I’m good. Great doctors in Colorado that has brought me through. God has brought me through. I’m thankful. I’m healthy. I got my swagger back. I’m ready to go. Ready to go coach my butt off this season.”
The interview wasn’t really about football, although Sanders couldn’t resist talking a little CU Buffs. When GMA host Michael Strahan asked what he was looking forward to most this season at Colorado, Sanders smiled and delivered a one-word answer.
“Winning.”
Sanders spoke openly about a journey that humbled one of the most confident athletes of his generation.
“I’m healthy. I got my health back. I got my swagger back thanks to Depend. I got my me back,” Sanders said. “Last year this time I’m fighting cancer. Didn’t know which way it was going to go.”
This is the same Deion Sanders who played in both a World Series and a Super Bowl. The same Deion Sanders who built a Hall of Fame career believing nobody could stop him. Yet a year ago he was facing something football couldn’t prepare him for. And while doctors declared hm cancer free last fall, there is always the anxiety of whether it will return.
Strahan reminded Sanders that he continued showing up for his players despite everything happening behind the scenes.
“You showed your desire and your commitment to the kids that you showed up when a lot of people wouldn’t have shown up,” Strahan said.
For Coach Prime, stepping away was never really an option. “How can you tell a man to relax?” Sanders replied. “This is my life. This is what I love to do.”
That competitive drive helped carry him through what he described as a difficult and emotional battle.
“We won,” Sanders said. “We fought the battle and we won the battle fighting cancer. And it was a tremendous and a tumultuous battle. And I’m thankful to be sitting here right now.”
The most powerful part of the interview came when Sanders discussed the reality of recovery.
“You got to understand, coming from all the accolades that you professed early on, now you’re sitting in the room, don’t know what’s what, can’t control your bladder,” Sanders said. “You got a whole new bladder. Your bladder don’t know you. You don’t know it.”
Sanders even shared an uncomfortable routine that became all too familiar. “First thing you do is wake up and you grab your crotch,” Sanders said. “Oh my God, I hope I hadn’t peed on myself.”
It’s not a quote most coaches would share on national television. It’s also why Sanders resonates with so many people. He looks at life's most difficult moments and laughs at them. And he hopes someone else might benefit from hearing them. The Colorado coach also stressed that early detection may have saved his life.
“Early detection was key,” Sanders said. “They were checking for something else and stumbled up on this. So early detection helped me out tremendously.”
That led Sanders to a message directed toward men who often ignore symptoms or postpone doctor visits. “We men, we’re not serious about our health,” Sanders said. “Women are serious. They don’t play. They go to the doctor at the drop of a hat. We’re tough. We’re tough, be strong, not cry, have that bravado.”
The football answer was still “Winning.” But judging from the smile on Sanders’ face, he’s already picked up one of the biggest victories of his life.
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