It has been a weird offseason in Boulder. Following the departures of Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders, it was always going to be an offseason of transition, but that has been further complicated by Deion Sanders' absence from the program for the last few months.
Sanders returned for Big 12 Media Days last week, but has yet to rejoin the team in the facility. That should happen soon, but his absence has caused a slow start to the 2025 recruiting cycle and has had Sanders himself admit there are young players on the team that he hasn't even met yet.
Since Sanders took the Colorado job in December of 2022, there have been expectations that he wouldn't be long for it. Most pundits believed Sanders would use Boulder as a mere stepping stone to bigger and better things. A two-year run was what most figured, and Coach Prime would depart once his sons and Hunter did.
Instead, Sanders is back for a third season as the Buffaloes' head coach. But that hasn't stopped the rampant rumour mill that is time at Colorado could be coming to a close.
Last week, NIL was cited as the reason for Prime potentially angling to leave. It was brought up by a local radio host and caused quite a reaction from Colorado fans.
But one prominent insider believes if Sanders does in fact leave Colorado, it won't be to pursue another job opportunity.
Could Coach Prime be getting ready to retire from coaching?
Kevin Borba, the host of the Locked on Buffs podcast, believes that if Sanders leaves Boulder, it will be because he's retiring, not taking another job.
Borba believes Sanders wouldn't find another job out there that gives him the type of support or control over the program the way Buffaloes AD Rick George has done. Sanders wants to do things his way, and his way has worked, and he would be apprehensive to relinquish the power he wields.
“I think people have this thought he’s going to leave for another coaching job," Borba said. "I firmly believe that if Deion Sanders leaves Colorado, it’s not going to be to coach. I think it’s going to be to step away from coaching, to step into the media again, or just give himself a break."
Sanders' health concerns could be the impetus for him walking away from coaching. Sanders has had multiple issues with blood clots over the last four years. He lost two toes to amputation in 2021, and last June had to undergo surgery to remove clots in his right leg. It has not been confirmed what the ailment has been this time, but Coach Prime has spoken of its severity.
Sanders walking away due to health issues - or to just take a break - would be a disappointing end to his tenure in Boulder. He has built a ton of positive momentum and made Colorado football relevant again for the first time in a long time.
The best is yet to come for the program, and hopefully Sanders will be the man leading the way.