As Shedeur Sanders inches closer to his NFL debut, the question of whether his father, Deion Sanders, will follow him to the league has been a hot topic of speculation.
With the Las Vegas Raiders searching for a new head coach after parting ways with Antonio Pierce, many believe that Deion Sanders might be the perfect candidate for the job.
According to ESPN’s NFL insider Jeremy Fowler, league executives have overwhelmingly indicated that the Raiders would be the best fit for Deion Sanders if he chooses to make the leap from college to the NFL. Despite only spending two seasons as the head coach of Colorado, Sanders has made a significant impact, which has led to rumors about a potential move to the professional ranks.
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When Deion Sanders took over as head coach of the Colorado Buffaloes in 2023, the team was struggling with a 1-11 record. However, under his leadership, the program experienced an impressive turnaround.
In his first year, Sanders helped the team improve to a 4-8 record, and by 2024, the Buffaloes finished with a 9-4 record – their best performance since 2016.
Though Colorado is still not quite at the level of a national championship contender, Sanders has proven that he can elevate a program quickly. His rapid success and growing prominence in the college football world have only fueled the speculation about him potentially making the jump to the NFL.
Does Sanders fit what the Raiders are looking for?
The Raiders are among the NFL teams currently in search of a new head coach after firing Antonio Pierce following a subpar season. Along with the head coach vacancy, the Raiders face a critical offseason as they work to rebuild their offense, which has struggled for several years. The team’s lack of a stable quarterback, running back, and No. 1 receiver in 2024 leaves many areas of concern to address.
With the No. 6 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, the Raiders are in a prime position to select a quarterback and fill one of their most pressing needs. The question now is whether Deion Sanders could be the man to lead the team back to prominence.
The idea of Deion Sanders joining the NFL has gained further traction due to the rising stock of his son, Shedeur Sanders, who is projected to be one of the top quarterbacks in the 2025 NFL Draft. With both father and son potentially available for the Raiders, many see the opportunity for a family package deal, where Deion Sanders would coach and Shedeur Sanders would be the team’s future quarterback.
This pairing has led to comparisons between the Raiders and other NFL teams, such as the Tennessee Titans and New York Giants, both of which are also in need of a quarterback after disappointing seasons. Although these teams have not yet made coaching changes, the hiring of Deion Sanders could signal their intent to target Shedeur Sanders in the draft, bringing the Sanders duo to their respective rosters.
