The head coach of the Colorado Buffaloes and former Dallas Cowboys cornerback Deion Sanders gave a major health update ahead of the upcoming college football season, after months of uncertainty surrounding his health. 

Coach Prime revealed that he is now cancer-free after being diagnosed with bladder cancer in April 2025.  

“I’m cancer-free,” per X post of Football Forever on June 10. “I’m good. Great doctors in Colorado that has brought me through. God has brought me through. I’m thankful. I’m healthy.”

Sanders has opened up about his battle with cancer on multiple occasions. In May 2025, he underwent surgery to remove his bladder after the doctors discovered a tumor there. Doctors confirmed that he was cancer-free following surgery, with no evidence of the condition remaining.

Nearly a year later, during his appearance on Good Morning America on June 9, Sanders updated that he is getting back this season, with the ultimate goal of winning, and gave a positive update about his recovery.

“I got my health back,” Sanders said. “I got my swagger back thanks to the pins. I got my ‘me’ back. Last year at this time, I was fighting cancer. We fought the battle, and we won the battle fighting cancer, and it was a tremendous and tumultuous battle, and I'm thankful to be sitting here right now.”

He stepped down from the offseason last year after revealing his cancer diagnosis in July 2025. Post-surgery, he coached Colorado in his third year with the team, where Colorado finished with a 3-9 overall record and a 1-8 record in the Big 12 Conference. 

Coach Prime has previously dealt with health issues that involved blood clots in his legs, for which he underwent emergency surgery in June 2023 and had two toes amputated in 2022, according to Jeff Legwold of ESPN. 

Having been through multiple surgeries, Sanders encouraged people to get regular health checks.

"But early detection was key, getting on it early, because you know, amputation, so they were checking for something else and stumbled upon this," Sanders added. "So early detection helped me out tremendously."

Sanders' encouraging health update comes at a crucial time, as Colorado heads into the 2026 season with a reshaped coaching staff and roster to move forward in the Big 12.

Colorado Buffaloes Undergo Major Offseason Changes

ESPN ranked the Buffaloes at No. 9, based on their transfer portal additions and coaching staff hires, following a disappointing 2025 season.

Sanders opted for new coordinators on both sides of the ball following a 3-9 season. However, defensive coordinator Robert Livingston’s return to the NFL occurred later in the hiring cycle.

The Buffaloes hired Brennan Marion as offensive coordinator to implement his high-tempo 'Go-Go' offense, replacing Pat Shurmur. They promoted linebackers coach Chris Marve as the defensive coordinator, replacing Livingston, who went to the Denver Broncos.

"Marion had great success as UNLV's offensive coordinator, setting a team scoring record (36.2 PPG) in 2024, and his Sacramento State squad averaged nearly 34 points last fall," per ESPN.

Colorado's coaching overhaul follows a disappointing record, as the Buffaloes fell to 114th in the nation in scoring after losing stars like quarterback Shedeur Sanders and wide receiver Travis Hunter to the NFL.

As Deion Sanders enters the 2026 season cancer-free, share your thoughts and well wishes in the comments.

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Written by

Archana Ramakrishnan

Edited by

Soheli Tarafdar