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", is an American football coach and former professional football and baseball player. He's currently the head coach for the Colorado Buffaloes. During his playing career, he spent 14 seasons in the NFL, playing for teams like the Atlanta Falcons, San Francisco 49ers, and Dallas Cowboys, securing two Super Bowl titles. He also played nine seasons as a baseball outfielder in the MLB for teams like the New York Yankees and Atlanta Braves, making a World Series appearance in 1992. Sanders is the only athlete to ever play in both a Super Bowl and a World Series.
1985: Drafted by Kansas City Royals
In 1985, Deion Sanders was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the sixth round of the MLB draft but did not sign with them.
1986: Batting Average
In 1986, Deion Sanders had a batting average of .331 while playing baseball at Florida State under coach Mike Martin.
May 16, 1987: Participation in Baseball and Track Championships
On May 16, 1987, Deion Sanders participated in the Metro Conference baseball semifinal game, ran a leg of a 4 × 100 relay, and then played in the baseball championship game. The FSU track team was the overall conference champion, and the baseball team won the conference title.
1987: Stolen Bases
In 1987, Deion Sanders compiled 27 stolen bases while playing baseball at Florida State.
1988: Selected by New York Yankees
In 1988, Deion Sanders was selected by the New York Yankees in the 30th round of the Major League Baseball draft and signed with the team on June 22.
May 31, 1989: MLB Debut
On May 31, 1989, Deion Sanders made his MLB debut.
1989: Home Run and Touchdown in the Same Week
During the 1989 season, Deion Sanders hit a home run and scored a touchdown in the NFL in the same week, making him the only player ever to accomplish this feat.
1989: Spring Training and Contract Dispute
In 1989, Deion Sanders was invited to the Yankees' spring training and was given no. 30, which offended many veteran players. He later became embroiled in a contract dispute with the Falcons and used the Yankees as leverage.
1989: NFL Debut with Falcons
In 1989, after running the 40-yard dash with times of 4.27s and 4.29s, Deion Sanders was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons as the fifth pick overall and played with them until 1993. He scored a touchdown on his second punt return attempt during his first game.
September 1990: Placed on Waivers by Yankees
In September 1990, the Yankees placed Deion Sanders on waivers with the intention of giving him his release, as Yankees' general manager Gene Michael said that Sanders' football career was stunting his baseball development.
1990: "The Bo and Prime Time Show"
In 1990, Deion Sanders and Bo Jackson, the preeminent multi-sport athletes of their time, met five times on the baseball diamond. On July 17th, Sanders and Jackson's matchup was billed as "The Bo and Prime Time Show".
1991: Signed with Atlanta Braves
In 1991, Deion Sanders signed with the Atlanta Braves for the MLB season and hit a key three-run homer, but missed the postseason due to his NFL contract.
October 11, 1992: Attempt to Play in Two Leagues in One Day
On October 11, 1992, Deion Sanders played in a Falcons game in Miami and then flew to Pittsburgh, hoping to play in the Braves' League Championship Series game that evening, aiming to be the first athlete to play in two professional leagues on the same day, though he ultimately did not appear in the baseball game.
1992: Best Year in Majors and World Series Appearance
During the 1992 season, Deion Sanders had his best year in the majors, hitting .304, stealing 26 bases, and leading the NL with 14 triples. He also played in the 1992 World Series, batting .533, but the Braves lost to the Toronto Blue Jays.
1992: World Series Appearance
In 1992, Deion Sanders made an appearance in the World Series, making him the only athlete to play in both a Super Bowl and a World Series.
1992: Reworked NFL Deal
In 1992, Deion Sanders reworked his NFL deal, allowing him to rejoin the Braves for the postseason after reporting to the Falcons for training camp.
1993: Career-High Interceptions
In 1993, Deion Sanders had a career-high seven interceptions while playing for the Atlanta Falcons.
May 30, 1994: Traded to Cincinnati Reds
On May 30, 1994, Deion Sanders was traded by the Braves to the Cincinnati Reds 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 49er uniform. After a scuffle with former Falcon teammate Andre Rison, Sanders intercepted a pass from Jeff George and returned it 93 yards, mocking the Falcons sideline before scoring.
December 1994: Street Fighter Soundtrack Release
In December 1994, Hammer released "Straight to My Feet" with Deion Sanders, which was featured on the Street Fighter soundtrack.
December 1994: Release of "Straight to My Feet"
In December 1994, Hammer released the song "Straight to My Feet" with Deion Sanders, from the Street Fighter soundtrack.
December 26, 1994: Release of Prime Time Album
On December 26, 1994, Deion Sanders released "Prime Time", a rap album on MC Hammer's Bust It Records featuring the singles "Must Be the Money" and "Prime Time Keeps on Tickin'".
January 1995: Spokesman for Sega Sports
In January 1995, Deion Sanders became the spokesman for the Sega Sports line of video games.
February 18, 1995: Hosting Saturday Night Live
On February 18, 1995, following his first Super Bowl victory, Deion Sanders hosted Saturday Night Live, performing a medley of songs from his album "Prime Time."
July 21, 1995: Traded to San Francisco Giants
On July 21, 1995, the Reds traded Deion Sanders, along with other players, to the San Francisco Giants for Dave Burba, Darren Lewis, and Mark Portugal.
September 9, 1995: Signing with the Dallas Cowboys
On September 9, 1995, Deion Sanders signed a lucrative seven-year, $35 million contract with a $12.99 million signing bonus with the Dallas Cowboys, making him the highest-paid defensive player in the NFL at the time.
1995: Hammer's Roll Wit It Entertainment & Sports Management
In 1995, MC Hammer launched Roll Wit It Entertainment & Sports Management, with Deion Sanders among his clients. Hammer also released 'Straight to My Feet' with Sanders.
1995: Charting of "Straight to My Feet" in the UK
In 1995, the song "Straight to My Feet" with Sanders, from the Street Fighter soundtrack charted No. 57 in the UK.
1996: Two-Way Starter
During the 1996 season, Deion Sanders concentrated on football and attended his first NFL training camp to learn the wide receiver position, becoming only the second two-way starter in the NFL since Roy Green.
1997: Stolen Bases with the Reds
In 1997, Deion Sanders finished second in the NL with 56 stolen bases in 115 games while with the Cincinnati Reds before leaving baseball for three years.
June 2, 2000: Release from the Dallas Cowboys
On June 2, 2000, Deion Sanders was released from the Dallas Cowboys in a salary-cap move.
2000: Season with the Redskins
In 2000, Deion Sanders played an above-average statistical year with the Washington Redskins.
2001: Retirement from NFL
In 2001, Deion Sanders retired from the NFL and started working as a pregame commentator for CBS' The NFL Today.
2001: Release from Reds and Minor League Contract
In 2001, Deion Sanders was released from the Cincinnati Reds after playing in only 32 games, and then signed a minor league contract with the Toronto Blue Jays.
December 23, 2002: Waived by 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.
2002: Hosting Miss USA Pageant
In 2002, Deion Sanders hosted the Miss USA pageant, and he also made guest appearances on ESPN and hosted a show called The New American Sportsman.
2003: Mentoring Devin Hester
In 2003, Deion Sanders began mentoring Devin Hester, a return specialist from Miami, providing 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 lacking organized basketball experience.
April 2004: Co-hosting the GMA Dove Awards
In late April 2004, Deion Sanders co-hosted the GMA Dove Awards broadcast that was taped. It was originally slated to air on UPN in May 2004.
May 2004: UPN Cancels GMA Dove Awards Broadcast
In May 2004, UPN canceled the GMA Dove Awards broadcast after Deion Sanders signed a deal with ESPN, two weeks prior to the broadcast, after negotiations with The NFL Today failed.
December 2004: Airing of GMA Dove Awards on i Network
In December 2004, the GMA Dove Awards, which Deion Sanders co-hosted, finally aired on the i Network after UPN had canceled the broadcast earlier in May 2004.
2004: Return to NFL with the Ravens
In 2004, Deion Sanders came out of retirement and signed a one-year deal with the Baltimore Ravens as a nickelback, wearing number 37 to acknowledge his age.
2004: Departure from CBS' The NFL Today
In 2004, Deion Sanders' contract negotiations with CBS' The NFL Today failed after he demanded $2.5 million, leading to Shannon Sharpe replacing him. During his time at CBS, he participated in sketches such as "Primetime and 21st" and "Sanders Claus," the latter of which originated in Nike commercials.
September 2, 2005: Hurricane Katrina Relief Challenge
On September 2, 2005, Deion Sanders challenged professional athletes to donate $1,000 each to Hurricane Katrina relief efforts.
2005: Final Season with the Ravens
In 2005, Deion Sanders played in every game of the season for the Baltimore Ravens, but the team did not make the postseason.
April 2006: Ownership of Austin Wranglers
In April 2006, Deion Sanders became an owner of the Austin Wranglers, an Arena Football League team.
2007: Mentoring Noel Devine
In 2007, Deion Sanders sought to adopt high school running back Noel Devine and ultimately mentored him, influencing Devine's decision to sign with West Virginia University.
July 22, 2008: Appearance on Celebrity Family Feud
On July 22, 2008, Deion Sanders and his family appeared on Celebrity Family Feud, competing against the Kardashian-Jenner family.
2010: Analyst at NFL Network
In 2010, Deion Sanders became an analyst at NFL Network, contributing to shows like NFL GameDay and Thursday Night Kickoff presented by Lexus.
2010: Spokesperson for Monitronics
In 2010, Deion Sanders served as a celebrity spokesperson for Monitronics, a security system firm, at an industry conference.
2012: Head Coach for Prime Prep Academy
In 2012, Deion Sanders became the head coach for the Prime Prep Academy, which he co-founded.
2012: Co-founding of Prime Prep Academy
In 2012, Deion Sanders co-founded the charter school Prime Prep Academy.
2013: Continued Role at Prime Prep
In 2013, Deion Sanders continued as the head coach for Prime Prep Academy, amid controversies.
2013: Leon Sandcastle's Popularity and Inclusion in Madden NFL 13
In 2013, Leon Sandcastle's "4.2 40 yard dash" video and "Combine Profile" were created by the NFL. Sandcastle also appeared in Rich Eisen's 'Run Rich Run' event and was included in Madden NFL 13 as a card in the 'Ultimate Team' game mode.
2013: Creation of Leon Sandcastle Character
In 2013, Leon Sandcastle, a fictional character and alter ego of Deion Sanders, was created for an NFL Network Super Bowl commercial. The commercial features Sandcastle going through the NFL Scouting Combine and being drafted first overall by the Kansas City Chiefs.
2014: Involvement in the 2014 Pro Bowl and Rejoining CBS Sports
In 2014, Deion Sanders served as an alumni captain for Team Sanders in the Pro Bowl, and he also rejoined CBS Sports as a studio analyst for Thursday games.
2014: Appearing on Running Wild with Bear Grylls
In 2014, Deion Sanders was featured on an episode of Running Wild with Bear Grylls, where he hiked in the desert of southern Utah for two days.
2015: CEO of FOCUS Academies and Coaching at Triple A Academy
In 2015, Deion Sanders became the CEO of FOCUS Academies and the head coach at Triple A Academy.
2015: Lip Sync Battle Victory
In 2015, Deion Sanders competed against Justin Bieber on Spike's Lip Sync Battle and won with performances of "Play That Funky Music" by Wild Cherry and "Like a Virgin" by Madonna.
2015: Head Coach for Triple A Academy
In 2015, Deion Sanders was hired as the head coach for Triple A Academy, a position he held for two seasons.
January 21, 2017: Appearance on Tiny House Nation
On January 21, 2017, Deion Sanders and his girlfriend Tracey Edmonds were featured on an episode of Tiny House Nation.
August 17, 2017: Switch to Trinity Christian-Cedar Hill High School
On August 17, 2017, Deion Sanders switched coaching positions and became the offensive coordinator at Trinity Christian-Cedar Hill High School.
2017: Offensive Coordinator at Trinity Christian High School
In 2017, Deion Sanders became the offensive coordinator for Trinity Christian High School, allowing him to coach his sons Shilo, Shedeur, and Deion Jr.
2018: Appearance on Undercover Boss
In 2018, Deion Sanders appeared in disguise on Undercover Boss, meeting with youth coaches and the less fortunate.
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, an HBCU, playing in the NCAA Division I FCS.
2020: OOFOS Brand Ambassador
In 2020, Deion Sanders became a brand ambassador for OOFOS, crediting their shoes with helping to alleviate his pain from his years as a pro athlete.
2020: Head Coach of Jackson State Tigers
In 2020, Deion Sanders became the head coach of the Jackson State Tigers.
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 a program record of 11 wins, earning the Eddie Robinson Award as the season's top FCS head coach. However, they lost in the Celebration Bowl to South Carolina State.
2021: First Season at Jackson State
In the spring of 2021, during a season abbreviated due to COVID-19, Deion Sanders led the Jackson State Tigers to a 4-3 record.
December 3, 2022: Head Coach of Colorado Buffaloes
On December 3, 2022, Deion Sanders was named the head coach of the Colorado Buffaloes.
2022: Celebration Bowl Appearances
In 2022, Deion Sanders led the Jackson State Tigers to two consecutive Celebration Bowl appearances and the first undefeated regular season in school history.
2022: Recruitment of Travis Hunter
In 2022, Deion Sanders successfully recruited Travis Hunter, the number one overall recruit, to Jackson State, marking a historic moment for HBCU recruiting. Sanders increased revenue and exposure for HBCUs, even paying for team expenses himself.
2023: First Season at Colorado
In 2023, Deion Sanders coached the Colorado Buffaloes, overhauling the roster through the transfer portal. The team started strong but finished with a 4-8 record.
2023: Head Football Coach of Colorado
In 2023, Deion Sanders was named the head football coach of Colorado.
April 10, 2024: Endorsement Deal with Boost Mobile
On April 10, 2024, Deion Sanders entered into an endorsement deal with Boost Mobile.
2024: Successful Season at Colorado
In 2024, Colorado under Sanders finished the regular season 9-3, tying for first in the Big 12. Travis Hunter won the Heisman trophy, and Shedeur Sanders finished 8th in Heisman voting. Their jerseys were later retired.
March 28, 2025: Contract Extension with Colorado
On March 28, 2025, Deion Sanders agreed to a five-year, $54 million contract extension with the University of Colorado.
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