Deion Sanders Colorado Buffaloes

Deion Sanders Faces Another Health Battle: Blood Clots Strike Again

Justin Rimpi

Look, nobody wants to see Coach Prime hurting. But there was Deion Sanders on Tuesday, being brutally honest about his latest health scare – and frankly, it’s enough to make any football fan’s heart skip a beat. The Colorado head coach dropped some heavy news: he’s dealing with blood clots again. Not exactly the kind of game plan anyone wants to run, especially when you’re trying to turn around a program in the Big 12.

Sanders Powers Through Pain During TCU Loss

Here’s the thing about Sanders – the man’s tougher than a two-dollar steak. During Colorado’s recent loss to TCU, he was literally coaching through agony. We’re talking about a guy who spent the game alternating between sitting down and limping around the sideline like he was walking on hot coals. By the second half, he’d ditched his left shoe entirely because the pain was that bad.

“I’m hurting like crazy,” Sanders said, and when Coach Prime says he’s hurting, you know it’s serious. “I’m not getting blood to my leg. That’s why my leg is throbbing.” The visual was tough to watch. This is a man who’s been through more medical procedures than most people have had hot dinners, yet there he was, gutting it out for his team.

The Hereditary Factor Sanders Can’t Control

What makes this whole situation even more frustrating is that Sanders can’t exactly game-plan his way out of this one. These blood clot issues? They’re hereditary. It’s like being dealt a bad hand in poker – sometimes you just have to play the cards you’re given.

“It has nothing to do with me working at the level and competing,” Sanders said. “It is hereditary. It is what it is. I trust God with all my heart.”  That is about as real as it gets from a coach who’s never been shy about wearing his faith on his sleeve.

Sanders’ Medical History Reads Like a War Story

If you’ve been following Sanders’ journey, you know this isn’t his first rodeo with serious health issues. Back in his Jackson State days in 2021, blood clots forced doctors to amputate two toes on his left foot. Let that sink in for a moment – the man literally lost part of his foot to keep coaching.

Then there was the 2023 saga when he missed Pac-12 media day after undergoing a procedure to remove a blood clot from his right leg. Oh, and they also had to straighten some toes on his left foot while they were at it. Because apparently, one foot procedure wasn’t enough.

But wait, there’s more. This past summer, Sanders battled an aggressive form of bladder cancer that required 14 surgeries. The treatment was so extensive that doctors had to reconstruct his intestine to function as a bladder. The result? Sanders now needs a portable bathroom on the sideline during games.

The Procedure and Quick Turnaround Plans

Never one to let adversity dictate his schedule, Sanders underwent a four-hour medical procedure to address the latest blood clot issues. His goal? To be back at practice the very next day. Because apparently, missing one practice is more painful to Coach Prime than the actual medical procedure. “Prayerfully, I’ll be right back at practice tomorrow,” Sanders said before the procedure. “I have a wonderful team of doctors at UC Health and a team of wonderful trainers here.”

What This Means For Colorado Football

The timing couldn’t be more challenging. Colorado is in the middle of a crucial season, and Sanders’ presence, both physical and spiritual, is vital to the program’s success. But here’s what makes Sanders special: he’s not letting his health issues become excuses.

This is a man who’s already proven he can coach through anything. Bladder cancer? Check. Amputated toes? Been there. Blood clots that would sideline most people for weeks? Sanders treats them like a minor inconvenience. The reality is that Sanders appreciates the concern from fans and media, but as he puts it, “I couldn’t have stopped what’s happening.” Sometimes life throws curveballs that even the most prepared coaches can’t anticipate.

For Colorado fans, watching their larger-than-life coach battle these health issues has to be both inspiring and terrifying. Sanders continues to embody the fighting spirit he’s trying to instill in his program, even when his own body seems to be working against him.

Justin has been a sportswriter for nearly a decade. He has previously written for 247 Sports an Sports Illustrated.

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