Career Timeline of Deion Sanders: Major Achievements and Milestones
Discover the career path of Deion Sanders, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.
Deion Sanders, nicknamed "Prime Time" and "Coach Prime", is an American football coach and former player currently coaching the Colorado Buffaloes. He played in the NFL for 14 seasons across multiple teams, including the Falcons, 49ers, and Cowboys. Sanders also played nine seasons as an outfielder in MLB with teams like the Yankees and Braves. He uniquely participated in both a Super Bowl (winning two) and a World Series, making him the only athlete to achieve both feats.
1985: Drafted by Kansas City Royals
In 1985, Deion Sanders was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the sixth round of the Major League Baseball draft, though he did not sign with the team.
1985: Kansas City Royals Draft
In 1985, Deion Sanders was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the sixth round, but he did not sign with them.
1986: Batting Average of .331
In 1986, while playing baseball at Florida State, Deion Sanders had a batting average of .331.
May 16, 1987: Track and Baseball Championship
On May 16, 1987, Deion Sanders participated in a conference semifinal baseball game, ran a leg of a 4 × 100 relay, and then returned to play in the baseball championship game against Cincinnati, contributing to both the FSU track and baseball teams winning their respective conference titles.
1987: 27 Stolen Bases
In 1987, Deion Sanders compiled 27 stolen bases while playing baseball at Florida State.
1988: Yankees Draft
In 1988, Deion Sanders was selected by the New York Yankees in the 30th round of the Major League Baseball draft and subsequently signed with the team on June 22.
May 31, 1989: MLB Debut
On May 31, 1989, Deion Sanders made his Major League Baseball debut.
1989: Home Run and Touchdown
In 1989, Deion Sanders achieved the unique feat of hitting a home run in baseball and scoring a touchdown in the NFL within the same week.
1989: Yankees Spring Training
In 1989, Deion Sanders was invited to the Yankees' spring training and was assigned No. 30, resulting in disputes with veteran team players. He began the 1989 season with the Albany-Colonie Yankees.
September 1990: Yankees Release
In September 1990, the Yankees placed Deion Sanders on waivers, intending to release him due to concerns that his football career was hindering his baseball development.
1990: "The Bo and Prime Time Show"
In 1990, Deion Sanders and Bo Jackson, two prominent multi-sport athletes, faced off in five baseball games, with the most memorable encounter occurring on July 17 in what was billed as "The Bo and Prime Time Show".
1991: Salary Request
In 1991, Deion Sanders requested a $1 million salary from the Yankees, which led to the team ending negotiations for a contract extension.
1991: Signed with Atlanta Braves
In 1991, Deion Sanders signed with the Atlanta Braves for the MLB season. During the Braves' run to the National League West Division title, he left the team due to his NFL contract.
October 11, 1992: Attempt to Play Two Sports in One Day
On October 11, 1992, Deion Sanders played in a Falcons game and flew to Pittsburgh with hopes of playing in the Braves' League Championship Series game against the Pirates that evening, but he did not ultimately appear in the baseball game.
1992: Best Season in the Majors
During the 1992 season, Deion Sanders had his best year in the majors, hitting .304 for the Atlanta Braves, stealing 26 bases, and leading the NL with 14 triples in 97 games. In four games of the 1992 World Series, Sanders batted .533.
1992: World Series Appearance
In 1992, Deion Sanders made an appearance in the World Series, achieving the distinction of being the only athlete to have played in both a Super Bowl and a World Series.
1992: Reworked NFL Deal
In 1992, Deion Sanders reworked his NFL deal, allowing him to report to the Falcons for training camp but rejoin the Braves for the postseason.
1993: Career-High Interceptions
In 1993, Deion Sanders recorded a career-high seven interceptions during his time with the Atlanta Falcons.
May 30, 1994: Trade to Cincinnati Reds
On May 30, 1994, Deion Sanders was traded to the Cincinnati Reds by the Atlanta Braves in exchange for Roberto Kelly.
October 16, 1994: Return to Georgia Dome
On October 16, 1994, Deion Sanders made a dramatic return to the Georgia Dome in a 49ers uniform, intercepting a pass and mockingly staring down the Falcons sideline before scoring a touchdown.
December 1994: Release of "Straight to My Feet"
In December 1994, Hammer released "Straight to My Feet" with Deion Sanders, from the Street Fighter soundtrack.
July 21, 1995: Trade to San Francisco Giants
On July 21, 1995, Deion Sanders, along with several other players, was traded by the Cincinnati Reds to the San Francisco Giants.
September 9, 1995: Signed with the Dallas Cowboys
On September 9, 1995, Deion Sanders signed a seven-year, $35 million contract with the Dallas Cowboys, including a $12.99 million signing bonus, becoming the highest-paid defensive player in the NFL at the time.
1995: "Straight to My Feet" Chart Success
In 1995, "Straight to My Feet," a song by Hammer featuring Deion Sanders, reached No. 57 in the UK charts.
1996: Two-Way Starter in the NFL
During the 1996 season, Deion Sanders became only the second two-way starter in the NFL since Chuck Bednarik, focusing on both offense and defense and skipping baseball to attend his first NFL training camp.
1997: Second in NL Stolen Bases
In 1997, Deion Sanders finished second in the National League with 56 stolen bases while playing for the Cincinnati Reds before temporarily leaving baseball.
June 2, 2000: Release from the Dallas Cowboys
On June 2, 2000, Deion Sanders was released from the Dallas Cowboys as a salary-cap move after playing four seasons and earning Pro Bowl selections each year.
2000: Signed with the Washington Redskins
In 2000, after being released by the Cowboys, Deion Sanders signed a seven-year, $56 million contract with the Washington Redskins.
2001: Commentator for CBS' The NFL Today
After retiring from the NFL in 2001, Deion Sanders worked as a pre-game commentator for CBS' The NFL Today.
2001: Return to Reds and Blue Jays Contract
In 2001, Deion Sanders returned to the Cincinnati Reds but was released after 32 games. He then signed a minor league contract with the Toronto Blue Jays.
December 23, 2002: Waived by the Redskins
On December 23, 2002, the Washington Redskins waived Deion Sanders from the reserve/retired list, potentially allowing him to play for the Oakland Raiders in the 2002-03 NFL playoffs.
2003: Mentorship of Devin Hester Begins
In 2003, Deion Sanders began mentoring Devin Hester, a return specialist from Miami, offering counsel and advice during Hester's collegiate career.
January 2004: Assistant Coach for Dallas Fury
In January 2004, Deion Sanders was hired as an assistant coach for the Dallas Fury, a women's professional basketball team, despite never having played organized basketball.
2004: Return to the NFL with the Baltimore Ravens
In 2004, Deion Sanders came out of retirement and signed a one-year deal with the Baltimore Ravens, choosing to wear number 37.
2004: Departure from CBS' The NFL Today
In 2004, Deion Sanders left CBS' The NFL Today after contract negotiations failed.
September 2, 2005: Hurricane Katrina Relief Challenge
On September 2, 2005, Deion Sanders challenged professional athletes to donate $1,000 each for Hurricane Katrina relief efforts.
2005: Played for the Ravens
In 2005, Deion Sanders played in every game of the season for the Baltimore Ravens.
April 2006: Austin Wranglers Ownership
In April 2006, Deion Sanders became an owner of the Austin Wranglers, an Arena Football League team.
2006: Hester Drafted by the Chicago Bears
In 2006, Devin Hester, whom Deion Sanders mentored, was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the second round of the NFL draft.
2007: Mentoring Noel Devine
In 2007, Deion Sanders mentored high school running back Noel Devine, influencing Devine's decision to sign with West Virginia University.
2010: Analyst for NFL Network
In 2010, Deion Sanders joined NFL Network as an analyst, appearing on shows like NFL GameDay and Thursday Night Kickoff.
2010: Monitronics Spokesperson
In 2010, Deion Sanders served as a celebrity spokesperson for Monitronics, a security system firm.
February 6, 2011: Performed Coin Toss at Super Bowl XLV
On February 6, 2011, Deion Sanders performed the pre-game coin toss at Super Bowl XLV in Arlington, Texas.
2012: Head Coach at Prime Prep Academy
In 2012, Deion Sanders became the head coach for the Prime Prep Academy, which he co-founded.
2013: Continued as Head Coach at Prime Prep Academy
Deion Sanders continued as the head coach for Prime Prep Academy in 2013.
2013: Leon Sandcastle Super Bowl Commercial Debut
In 2013, the Leon Sandcastle character, a fictional disguise for Deion Sanders, debuted in a Super Bowl commercial for the NFL Network.
2013: Leon Sandcastle's Fictional NFL Combine Presence
In 2013, the NFL created combine videos and a profile for Leon Sandcastle, Deion Sanders' alter ego, and he appeared at Rich Eisen's 'Run Rich Run' event, further popularizing the character.
2014: 2014 Pro Bowl and CBS Sports Analyst
In 2014, Deion Sanders was an alumni captain for Team Sanders in the Pro Bowl and re-joined CBS Sports as a studio analyst for Thursday games.
2015: CEO of FOCUS Academies and Coaching at Triple A Academy
In 2015, Deion Sanders became the CEO of FOCUS Academies and head coach at Triple A Academy, leading the team against his alma mater.
2015: Head Coach for Triple A Academy
In 2015, Deion Sanders was hired as the head coach for Triple A Academy.
August 17, 2017: Offensive Coordinator at Trinity Christian-Cedar Hill
On August 17, 2017, Deion Sanders became the offensive coordinator at Trinity Christian-Cedar Hill high school, where his sons played.
2017: Offensive Coordinator at Trinity Christian High School
In 2017, Deion Sanders became the offensive coordinator for Trinity Christian High School.
2018: Undercover Boss Appearance
In 2018, Deion Sanders appeared in disguise on Undercover Boss, where he met with youth coaches and less fortunate individuals; the episode aired on CBS.
September 21, 2020: Head Coach of Jackson State Tigers
On September 21, 2020, Deion Sanders became the 21st head coach of the Jackson State Tigers.
2020: Head Coach of Jackson State
In 2020, Deion Sanders was named the head coach of the Jackson State Tigers, marking a significant step in his coaching career.
2021: First Season at Jackson State
In 2021, Deion Sanders led the Jackson State Tigers to a 4-3 record in his first season.
2021: SWAC Title and Eddie Robinson Award
In the fall 2021 season, Deion Sanders led the Jackson State Tigers to the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) title and received the Eddie Robinson Award as the season's top FCS head coach.
December 3, 2022: Named Head Coach of Colorado Buffaloes
On December 3, 2022, Deion Sanders was named the head coach of the Colorado Buffaloes.
2022: Recruitment of Travis Hunter
In 2022, Deion Sanders notably flipped the recruitment of defensive back Travis Hunter to Jackson State.
2022: Undefeated Regular Season
In 2022, under Deion Sanders' leadership, the Jackson State Tigers achieved their first undefeated regular season, a historic milestone for the school.
2023: Buffaloes Head Coach
In 2023, Deion Sanders became the head coach of the Colorado Buffaloes, continuing his coaching career at a new institution.
2023: First season with Colorado Buffaloes
In 2023, Deion Sanders coached the Colorado Buffaloes to a 4-8 season, with a 1-8 record in Pac-12 play, after a significant roster overhaul.
April 10, 2024: Endorsement Deal with Boost Mobile
On April 10, 2024, Deion Sanders entered into an endorsement deal with Boost Mobile.
