Ever since Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders walked into Boulder, Colorado, football went from an afterthought to a national phenomenon. The hype and media attention he created turned a 1-11 program into one of the most discussed programs in the nation. In 2024, they went 9-4 and received the Valero Alamo Bowl invitation, a huge turnaround by any measure.

With that energy, Colorado presented Sanders with a five-year, $54 million contract extension in March 2025. It was a declaration: Coach Prime wasn’t simply coaching a team; he was constructing a movement. But now, with rumors circulating that Sanders may resign because of health-related issues, eyes have shifted to the monetary fine print. If he leaves early, what does he owe the university, and what does the contract safeguard?

The key is the composition of that $54 million contract. In 2025, if Sanders quits to be a coach elsewhere, he owes a $12 million buyout. That drops to $10 million in 2026, $6 million in 2027, $4 million in 2028, and only $3 million if he departs in the last year of his deal in 2029. The provision was intended to ensure that any premature exit would be expensive and deter other programs or NFL franchises from luring him away during the middle of his deal. It’s a lucrative buyout in college football, and also an indication that Colorado was all-in on holding onto Coach Prime in the long term.

But only that financial commitment kicks in if Sanders departs for another coaching gig. If he retires from football entirely, particularly due to recorded health issues, then that buyout might not kick in. It’s been reported that Sanders has been fighting serious health issues over the past few years, including blood clots that resulted in amputations of his toes. And, most recently, bladder cancer necessitated his bladder to be removed. If he’s resigning for health issues and not coaching somewhere else, maybe he can leave without owing anything.

Things are sensitive. Though fans understandably crave certainty regarding the fate of Colorado football, the human aspect of the equation is far more significant. Sanders has invested everything in the program and served to raise it both on and off the playing field. From a budget perspective, Colorado is safeguarded. But culturally and emotionally, losing Coach Prime, particularly under health-related conditions, would be an enormous loss. But there are some from the program who have responded to those rumors.

Rumors circulate, but Colorado insider puts Deion speculation to rest

For a few hours, social media was aflame. A tweet from an anonymous source set the fire off. And suddenly, Deion Sanders’ retirement from Colorado football because of health reasons was out there in everyone’s head. That the post contained little information or any hint of verification mattered not; merely the speculation that he might leave was enough to put fans and the media into full-blown hyperdrive.

The report, which came in a tweet labeled “College Transfer Portal,” stated an announcement was on the verge, which implied Sanders had made up his mind to resign. With a lack of supporting facts, the tweet nonetheless went viral. Here’s the Deion Sanders effect. Anything associated with his name goes viral, and when it’s something as drastic as resigning, folks pay attention quickly. For a program constructed around his persona, even a rumor of his departure rings a bell.

But as suddenly as the rumor had appeared, it was dismissed. Corey Philip, the Director of Player Personnel for Colorado, squashed the rumor flat with a concise message on X (formerly Twitter): “A LIE DON’T CARE WHO TELL IT❗❗” No fanfare, no lengthy refutation, just a direct statement that got the point across.

At this point, Deion Sanders isn’t moving anywhere. Until something official comes along, fans don’t have to worry. Coach Prime is still in charge at Colorado.