History of Deion Sanders in Timeline
Deion Sanders is an American football coach, currently the head coach at the University of Colorado-Boulder. He is a former professional football and baseball player, playing 14 seasons in the NFL and 9 seasons in MLB. He played for teams such as the Atlanta Falcons, San Francisco 49ers, Dallas Cowboys, New York Yankees, and Atlanta Braves. Sanders is the only athlete to have played in both a Super Bowl and a World Series, winning two Super Bowl titles.
1920: Reference to Bill Wambsganss
In 1992, During Game 3 of the 1992 World Series, there was a reference to Bill Wambsganss' unassisted triple play in 1920. Deion narrowly avoided what would have been only the second triple play in World Series history.
August 9, 1967: Deion Sanders Born
On August 9, 1967, Deion Luwynn Sanders Sr. was born. He is now an American football coach at the University of Colorado-Boulder and a former professional football and baseball player.
1985: Drafted by Kansas City Royals
In 1985, Deion Sanders was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the sixth round but did not sign.
1985: All-Century Team Honoree
In 1985, Deion Sanders was named to the Florida High School Association All-Century Team, which selected the top 33 players in the 100-year history of high school football in the state.
1986: Batting Average
In 1986, Deion Sanders achieved a batting average of .331 while playing baseball at Florida State under coach Mike Martin.
1986: Third-Team All-American
In 1986, Deion Sanders was named a third-team All-American while playing for Florida State University.
May 16, 1987: Conference 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 against Cincinnati. The FSU track team was the overall conference champion, and the baseball team also won the conference title.
1987: Stolen Bases
In 1987, Deion Sanders compiled 27 stolen bases while playing baseball at Florida State.
1987: Consensus All-American Cornerback
In 1987, Deion Sanders was recognized as a consensus All-American cornerback for Florida State University.
1988: "Deion Sanders rule" creation
In 1988, Deion Sanders did not attend classes or take final exams during the fall semester of his senior year at Florida State, yet played in the Sugar Bowl against Auburn. This caused the state legislature to create the "Deion Sanders rule".
1988: Drafted 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 22nd.
1988: Jim Thorpe Award and Punt Return Leader
In 1988, Deion Sanders won the Jim Thorpe Award and led the nation in punt return average while playing for Florida State University.
1988: Jim Thorpe Award
In 1988, Deion Sanders won the Jim Thorpe Award while playing college football as a cornerback for the Florida State Seminoles.
May 31, 1989: MLB Debut
On May 31, 1989, Deion Sanders made his Major League Baseball debut.
1989: Home Run and Touchdown in the Same Week
During the 1989 season, Deion Sanders achieved the unique feat of hitting a home run in MLB and scoring a touchdown in the NFL in the same week.
1989: Marriage to Carolyn Chambers
In 1989, Deion Sanders married Carolyn Chambers, with whom he had two children.
1989: NFL Draft and Debut
In 1989, Deion Sanders was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons as the fifth overall pick and played until 1993. During his first game, he ran for a touchdown on his second punt return attempt.
1989: Spring Training and Contract Dispute
In 1989, Deion Sanders was invited to the Yankees' spring training and was given the number 30, which upset veteran players. He later became involved in a contract dispute with the Falcons, using the Yankees as leverage.
1989: Sugar Bowl Win
In 1989, during the 1988 postseason, Deion Sanders made an interception with five seconds left to seal Florida State's 13–7 win over Auburn in the Sugar Bowl.
May 22, 1990: Dispute with Carlton Fisk
On May 22, 1990, Deion Sanders was involved in a dispute with Chicago White Sox catcher Carlton Fisk after Sanders failed to run to first base and allegedly made a comment about slavery. This created controversy within the baseball community.
September 1990: Placed on Waivers by Yankees
In September 1990, the Yankees placed Deion Sanders on waivers with the intention of releasing him. General Manager Gene Michael cited that Sanders' football career was stunting his baseball development.
1990: "The Bo and Prime Time Show"
In 1990, Deion Sanders faced Bo Jackson five times on the baseball field, highlighted by a game on July 17 billed as "The Bo and Prime Time Show." During this game, Sanders hit an inside-the-park home run.
1991: Signed with Atlanta Braves
In 1991, Deion Sanders signed with the Atlanta Braves for the MLB season. On July 31, he hit a key three-run homer, but left the team the next day due to an NFL contract clause.
1991: Salary Request
In mid-July, 1990 Sanders expressed that he was unsure if he would remain with the Yankees and he requested a $1 million salary for the 1991 season, leading the Yankees to end contract extension negotiations with him.
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 against the Pirates that evening and become the first athlete to play in two professional leagues in the same day. Sanders, however, did not appear in the baseball game that night.
1992: Reworked NFL Deal
Before the 1992 season, Deion Sanders reworked his NFL deal to allow him to rejoin the Braves for the postseason while still reporting to the Falcons training camp in August.
1992: Best Season in the Majors
During the 1992 season, Deion Sanders had his best year in the majors, hitting .304 with 26 stolen bases and leading the NL with 14 triples in 97 games.
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 World Series.
1993: Career-High Interceptions
In 1993, Deion Sanders recorded 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 the Georgia Dome
On October 16, 1994, Deion Sanders made his return to the Georgia Dome in a 49er uniform, where he intercepted a pass and returned it 93 yards for a touchdown against his former team, the Atlanta Falcons.
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.
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 that featured the singles "Must Be the Money" and "Prime Time Keeps on Tickin'" but didn't chart in the Top 40.
1994: NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award
In 1994, Deion Sanders was selected to eight Pro Bowls and won the NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award.
January 1995: Spokesman for Sega Sports
In January 1995, Deion Sanders became the spokesman for the Sega Sports line of video games. Sanders has also appeared in television commercials for such companies as Nike, Pepsi, Burger King, Pizza Hut and American Express.
February 18, 1995: Hosting Saturday Night Live
On February 18, 1995, Deion Sanders hosted Saturday Night Live after winning his first Super Bowl with the San Francisco 49ers, 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, Dave McCarty, Ricky Pickett, John Roper, and Scott Service 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 seven-year, $35 million contract with a $12.99 million signing bonus with the Dallas Cowboys, becoming the highest-paid defensive player in the NFL at the time.
1995: "Straight to My Feet" charts in the UK
In 1995, "Straight to My Feet" with Sanders charted No. 57 in the UK.
1995: Appearance in Music Videos
In 1995, Deion Sanders appeared in the "2 Legit 2 Quit" music video, and his alter-ego "Prime Time" showed up in Hammer's "Pumps and a Bump" music video.
1995: "Deion Sanders rule" for Salary Caps
In 1995, Deion Sanders signed with the Dallas Cowboys for a minimum yearly base salary and a nearly $13 million signing bonus in an attempt to circumvent the NFL's salary cap. This caused the NFL to institute its own "Deion Sanders rule".
1995: Jersey Retirement at Florida State
In 1995, Deion Sanders' No. 2 jersey was retired at Florida State University due to his accolades.
1996: Two-way Player
During the 1996 season, Deion Sanders concentrated on football, skipped the baseball season, and attended NFL training camp. He became only the second two-way starter in the NFL since Chuck Bednarik.
1997: Second in NL Stolen Bases
In 1997, Deion Sanders finished second in the NL with 56 stolen bases in 115 games while playing for the Cincinnati Reds before taking a three-year break from baseball.
1997: Suicide Attempt
In 1997, Deion Sanders, while playing for the Reds, attempted suicide by driving a car off a cliff in Cincinnati due to a difficult time in his life as his first marriage was ending.
1998: Divorce from Carolyn Chambers
In 1998, Deion Sanders divorced Carolyn Chambers.
1999: Marriage to Pilar Biggers-Sanders
In 1999, Deion Sanders married Pilar Biggers-Sanders, with whom he had three children.
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.
July 2001: Abrupt Retirement
In July 2001, after playing one year with the Washington Redskins, Deion Sanders abruptly retired despite having an above-average statistical year.
2001: Retirement from the NFL
In 2001, Deion Sanders retired from the NFL and started working as a pregame commentator for CBS' The NFL Today.
2001: Return to Reds and Release
In 2001, Deion Sanders returned to the Cincinnati Reds but was released after playing only 32 games. He then signed a minor league contract with the Toronto Blue Jays and was assigned to the Triple-A Syracuse SkyChiefs.
December 23, 2002: Waived by the Redskins
On December 23, 2002, the 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: Guest Appearances and Hosting
In 2002, Deion Sanders made guest appearances on ESPN and hosted the Miss USA pageant.
2003: Mentoring Devin Hester
In 2003, Deion Sanders took interest in Devin Hester and started mentoring the return specialist from Miami, counseling him during his collegiate career.
January 2004: Assistant Coach for the Dallas Fury
In January 2004, Deion Sanders was hired as an assistant coach for the Dallas Fury, a women's professional basketball team in the National Women's Basketball League, despite not having played organized basketball.
April 2004: Co-Hosting the GMA Dove Awards
In late April 2004, Deion Sanders co-hosted the 2004 GMA Dove Awards broadcast, which was taped for air on UPN.
May 2004: UPN Cancels GMA Dove Awards Broadcast
In May 2004, UPN canceled the GMA Dove Awards broadcast after Sanders signed a deal with ESPN following failed negotiations with The NFL Today.
December 2004: GMA Dove Awards Airs on i Network
In December 2004, the GMA Dove Awards, which Deion Sanders co-hosted, finally aired on the i Network after being canceled by UPN earlier in the year.
2004: Comeback 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 to reflect his age.
2004: Departure from 'The NFL Today'
In 2004, Deion Sanders' contract negotiations with CBS' The NFL Today failed because he wanted $2.5 million, and he was subsequently replaced by Shannon Sharpe.
September 2, 2005: Hurricane Katrina Relief Challenge
On September 2, 2005, Deion Sanders challenged all professional athletes to donate $1,000 each to Hurricane Katrina relief efforts.
2005: Played every game of the season
Deion Sanders played in every game of the 2005 season, his second season for the Baltimore Ravens.
January 2006: Second Retirement
In January 2006, Deion Sanders retired from the NFL after the Baltimore Ravens failed to qualify for the postseason for the second straight year.
April 2006: Ownership of the Austin Wranglers
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 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 Noel Devine, a top high school running back recruit, and was a factor in Devine's extended wait to sign a letter-of-intent to West Virginia University. Devine eventually signed to play football for the Mountaineers.
July 22, 2008: Appearance on Celebrity Family Feud
On July 22, 2008, Deion Sanders appeared with his family on Celebrity Family Feud, competing against the Kardashian family.
2010: Analyst on NFL Network
In 2010, Deion Sanders became an analyst on NFL Network, contributing to shows like NFL GameDay and Thursday Night Kickoff.
2010: Celebrity Spokesperson for Monitronics
In the spring of 2010, Deion Sanders served as a celebrity spokesperson, representing Monitronics, a security system firm, at an industry conference.
February 6, 2011: Super Bowl XLV Coin Toss
On February 6, 2011, Deion Sanders performed the pregame coin toss at Super Bowl XLV in Arlington, Texas.
2011: Hall of Fame Induction
In 2011, Deion Sanders was inducted into both the College Football Hall of Fame and the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
April 2012: Assault Charges Against Deion and Pilar Sanders
In April 2012, a dispute between Deion Sanders and his estranged wife, Pilar Sanders, led to both of them facing misdemeanor assault charges, but a judge ruled that neither party committed family violence.
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 Academy
Deion Sanders continued as the head coach for Prime Prep Academy in 2013, amidst controversies regarding his position.
2013: Custody Dispute with Pilar Sanders
In 2013, Deion Sanders and Pilar Sanders had a bitter custody dispute over their three children, and a Texas jury voted to give Deion Sanders sole custody of their two sons and joint custody over their daughter.
2013: Leon Sandcastle's appearance in the NFL draft
In 2013, although not an actual NFL draft prospect, the Leon Sandcastle character created for an NFL Network commercial had combine videos, a combine profile, and appeared at Rich Eisen's 'Run Rich Run' event, gaining positive social media response. Leon Sandcastle was also put into Madden NFL 13 as a card in the 'Ultimate Team' game mode.
2013: Creation of Leon Sandcastle Character
In 2013, the Leon Sandcastle character, a disguise for Deion Sanders, was created for an NFL Network Super Bowl commercial where he attempts an NFL comeback.
2014: Pro Bowl Alumni Captain and CBS Analyst
In 2014, Deion Sanders served as an alumni captain for Team Sanders in the Pro Bowl and rejoined CBS Sports as a studio analyst for Thursday games.
2014: Featured on Running Wild with Bear Grylls
In 2014, Deion Sanders was featured on Running Wild with Bear Grylls, where he hiked in the desert of southern Utah for two days.
2015: Victory on Lip Sync Battle
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: Divorce from Pilar Biggers-Sanders
In 2015, Deion Sanders divorced Pilar Biggers-Sanders.
2015: Head Coach for Triple A Academy
In 2015, Deion Sanders was hired as the head coach for Triple A Academy, where he coached for two seasons.
2015: CEO of FOCUS Academies and Head Coach at Triple A Academy
In 2015, Deion Sanders was named the CEO of FOCUS Academies and the head coach at Triple A Academy, leading the team to face his alma mater.
2015: Closure of Prime Prep Academy
In 2015, Prime Prep Academy, co-founded by Deion Sanders, shut down due to a lack of focus on academics, poor management, and accumulated debt.
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: Offensive Coordinator at Trinity Christian-Cedar Hill
On August 17, 2017, Deion Sanders switched coaching positions to become the offensive coordinator at Trinity Christian-Cedar Hill high school in Cedar Hill, Texas, where his sons played.
2017: Offensive Coordinator for Trinity Christian High School
In 2017, Deion Sanders became the offensive coordinator for Trinity Christian High School, coaching his sons Shilo, Shedeur, and Deion Jr.
2018: Appearance on Undercover Boss
In 2018, Deion Sanders appeared in disguise on CBS' 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, a historically black university (HBCU).
2020: Graduation from Talladega College
In 2020, Deion Sanders graduated from Talladega College with a bachelor's degree in business administration with an emphasis on organizational management.
2020: Head Coach of Jackson State Tigers
In 2020, Deion Sanders was named the head coach of the Jackson State Tigers.
2021: Foot Surgeries and Amputation
In 2021, Deion Sanders underwent several foot surgeries and had two toes on his left foot amputated due to blood clots.
2021: First Season at Jackson State
In his first season in spring 2021, which was abbreviated and delayed due to COVID-19, Deion Sanders led the Jackson State Tigers to a 4-3 record.
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, Jackson State lost in the 2021 Celebration Bowl.
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: Undefeated Regular Season
In 2022, Deion Sanders led the Jackson State Tigers to the school's first undefeated regular season.
2022: Recruitment of Travis Hunter
In 2022, Deion Sanders successfully flipped the recruitment of Travis Hunter, the number one overall recruit, from Florida State to Jackson State, marking a significant moment for HBCU recruitment.
2023: Colorado Head Coach
In 2023, Deion Sanders was named head coach of the University of Colorado.
2023: First Season at Colorado
In 2023, after extensive roster changes via the transfer portal, Deion Sanders led Colorado to a 4-8 season, including a 1-8 record in Pac-12 play.
April 10, 2024: Endorsement Deal with Boost Mobile
On April 10, 2024, Deion Sanders entered into an endorsement deal with Boost Mobile.
2024: Strong Season and Heisman Trophy
In 2024, Deion Sanders coached Colorado to a 9-3 regular season record and a tie for 1st in the Big 12. Travis Hunter won the Heisman Trophy and the team retired the jerseys of Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders after the season.
March 28, 2025: Contract Extension with Colorado
On March 28, 2025, Deion Sanders agreed to a five-year, $54 million contract extension with Colorado.
2025: NFL Draft and Free Agency for Sons
In the 2025 NFL draft, Deion Sanders's son Shedeur was selected in the fifth round by the Cleveland Browns, and his son Shilo was signed by the Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent.
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