Colorado head football coach Deion Sanders underwent surgery to remove his bladder after a cancer diagnosis, which kept him away from Boulder for much of the summer. As the third-year Buffaloes coach begins Week 2 of the 2025 college football season following a 27-20 loss to Georgia Tech, his focus is now on returning to winning.
Sanders’ former Dallas Cowboys teammate and close friend, Michael Irvin, spoke about Sanders’ recovery during an appearance on the Dan Patrick Show. Irvin said, “You know how Deion’s doing, Deion had a game he could’ve won the other night. He had that game and it was a big game (…) Health-wise he’s great. Health-wise he’s in the best place he could be, and that’s right back on the sideline with his guys.”
Irvin described visiting Sanders at his Texas home earlier this summer while Sanders was rehabbing from surgery. “When I went to see him and he was really at his lowest, all he talked about to me — which was amazing — was ‘I haven’t seen my players.’ And I told him it reminded me of when my dad was very sick and he went to the doctor and all he was thinking about was his family (…) It tells you the power and how powerful that kind of man is. So, yeah, he was like that thinking only about his players when he was at his lowest, and now his players are probably feeling low, yeah you know how he feels right now. But health-wise, he’s healthy,” Irvin added.
Sanders addressed his health challenges during a press conference July 28 alongside doctors after undergoing multiple surgeries—including bladder removal in May—resulting in incontinence issues. This change has led Sanders to use adult diapers as well as a portable sideline toilet sponsored by Depend.
Kimberly-Clark, parent company of Depend, stated in support: “Depend is proud to help millions of people live more confidently every day with comfort and protection they can trust – this includes Coach (…) Wearing Depend isn’t a sign of weakness; it’s a badge of resilience. It takes real courage to face health challenges head-on (…). We champion and celebrate Coach’s strength to share his experience with the world, which makes us proud to partner with, and support, him on this journey. Together, we know his voice will empower others to stand tall and help break the stigma that can come with wearing products like Depend.”
Grant Grubbs and Nick Kosko contributed reporting.
