Colorado Retains Deion Sanders with Contract Renewal and Significant Salary Increase
Deion Sanders has signed a contract extension that will keep him as the head coach of Colorado until 2029, as announced on Friday.
Under this new deal, Sanders will receive a base salary of $10 million in 2025, making him the highest-paid coach in the Big 12 and one of the top 10 highest-paid head coaches in the country, according to the university.
According to ESPN, Sanders will earn a total compensation of $54 million over the next five years, with his salary increasing to $11 million in 2027 and $12 million in 2029.
Last season, Sanders earned $5.7 million, as reported by the USA Today coaches' salary database. This made him the second-highest paid coach in the Big 12, behind Mike Gundy of Oklahoma State who earned $7.75 million.
Sanders took over a struggling team in 2022, with a record of 1-11, and led them to a 4-8 record in his first season. In 2024, the Buffaloes had a successful 9-4 season and were invited to the Alamo Bowl.
The university praised Sanders' leadership and called his two seasons as head coach "transformational." They also credited him for making the Colorado football team one of the most-watched teams in sports, with 54 million viewers in 2024.
Athletic director Rick George stated, "Coach Prime has revolutionized college football and restored CU football to its rightful place as a national power. This extension not only recognizes his incredible accomplishments on and off the field, but also keeps him in Boulder to compete for conference and national championships in the future."
Campus leaders also noted the positive impact Sanders has had on the academic side of Colorado, with a 20 percent increase in applications and a 50.5 percent increase in applications from Black/African American students. He also speaks at classes and special campus events.
Sanders, 57, expressed his excitement for the opportunity to continue building something special at Colorado. He stated, "We've only just begun to tap into the potential of this program. It's not just about football; it's about developing young men who are ready to take on the world. I am committed to bringing greatness to this university, both on and off the field. We have work to do, and I wouldn't want to be anywhere else but here, making history with these incredible players and passionate fans."
Lastly, Sanders jokingly asked if anyone had a five-bedroom home with acreage for sale.
Sanders, a former defensive back in the NFL, played 14 seasons, won two Super Bowls, and was named a first-team All-Pro six times. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2011.
He also had a successful career in Major League Baseball, playing nine seasons and retiring with a career average of .263, 186 stolen bases, and 43 triples in 641 games.
Before joining Colorado, Sanders spent three seasons as the head coach at Jackson State, where he had a record of 27-6.
