History of Deion Sanders in Timeline

Deion Sanders, nicknamed "Prime Time" and now "Coach Prime", is an American football coach and former player. He currently coaches the Colorado Buffaloes. Sanders played 14 seasons in the NFL for multiple teams, including the Atlanta Falcons, San Francisco 49ers, and Dallas Cowboys. Notably, he also played nine seasons in MLB. He's the only athlete to have played in both a Super Bowl and a World Series, winning two Super Bowls. His unique two-sport career solidified his status as a prominent figure in both football and baseball.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

1961: Interception-return-yardage record

In 1961, Charlie McNeil recorded the most interception-return-yardage in a single season.

August 9, 1967: Deion Sanders Born

Deion Sanders was born on August 9, 1967. He would later become known as "Prime Time" and "Coach Prime."

Others born on this day/year

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, but he chose to attend Florida State University instead of signing with the Royals.

1985: All-Century Team Honoree

In 1985, Deion Sanders was named to the Florida High School Association All-Century Team, recognizing him as one of the top 33 high school football players in the state's history.

May 16, 1987: Participated in Baseball and Track Championships Simultaneously

On May 16, 1987, Deion Sanders participated in both the Metro Conference baseball and track championships. He played in the baseball game, ran a leg of the 4 × 100 relay, and returned to play in the baseball championship game.

1987: Stolen Bases

In 1987, while playing baseball at Florida State, Deion Sanders compiled 27 stolen bases, showcasing his speed and athleticism.

1988: "Deion Sanders rule" creation

In 1988, Deion Sanders did not attend classes or take final exams during 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: 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 22nd.

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 hit a home run in baseball and scored a touchdown in the NFL in the same week, becoming the only player ever to accomplish this feat.

1989: Marriage to Carolyn Chambers

In 1989, Deion Sanders married Carolyn Chambers.

1989: Spring Training with the Yankees

In 1989, Deion Sanders was invited to spring training with the New York Yankees. He requested a single-digit number, and the Yankees gave him No. 30, which offended veteran players. He later became embroiled in a contract dispute with the Falcons, using the Yankees as leverage.

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. The incident began when Sanders drew a dollar sign in the dirt before a pitch and failed to run to first base after hitting a routine pop fly, leading to an argument and accusations of racial insensitivity.

September 1990: Yankees Place Sanders on Waivers

In September 1990, the Yankees placed Deion Sanders on waivers, intending to release him. Yankees' general manager Gene Michael cited Sanders' football career as hindering his baseball development.

1991: Signed with Atlanta Braves

In 1991, Deion Sanders signed with the Atlanta Braves for the MLB season.

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. However, he did not appear in the baseball game, failing to become the first athlete to play in two professional leagues in the same day.

May 30, 1994: Traded to Cincinnati Reds

On May 30, 1994, Deion Sanders was traded by the Atlanta Braves to the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for Roberto Kelly.

October 16, 1994: Sanders' return to the Georgia Dome

On October 16, 1994, Deion Sanders made a dramatic return to the Georgia Dome in a 49er uniform. Sanders intercepted a pass from Jeff George and returned it 93 yards while mockingly staring down the Falcons sideline before high-stepping into the end zone.

December 1994: "Straight to My Feet" Release

In December 1994, Hammer released "Straight to My Feet" with Deion Sanders, from the Street Fighter soundtrack.

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December 26, 1994: Release of "Prime Time" Rap 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'", which did not chart in the Top 40.

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1994: NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award

In 1994, Deion Sanders was selected as the NFL Defensive Player of the Year.

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: Sanders hosted Saturday Night Live

On February 18, 1995, Deion Sanders hosted Saturday Night Live and performed a medley of songs from his "Prime Time" album, including "Must Be the Money" and "Heidi Heidi Hey".

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July 21, 1995: Traded to San Francisco Giants

On July 21, 1995, Deion Sanders, along with Dave McCarty, Ricky Pickett, John Roper, and Scott Service, was traded by the Cincinnati Reds to the San Francisco Giants for Dave Burba, Darren Lewis, and Mark Portugal.

September 9, 1995: Sanders signed with the Dallas Cowboys

On September 9, 1995, Deion Sanders signed a lucrative contract with the Dallas Cowboys for seven years, $35 million with a $12.99 million signing bonus, making him the highest-paid defensive player in the NFL at the time.

1995: "Deion Sanders rule" institution

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 Retired at Florida State

In 1995, Deion Sanders' No. 2 jersey was retired at Florida State University, a testament to his outstanding achievements and legacy as a Seminole.

1995: Roll Wit It Entertainment & Sports Management

In 1995, Hammer launched Roll Wit It Entertainment & Sports Management, with clients like Evander Holyfield, Deion Sanders and Reggie Brooks.

1995: "Straight to My Feet" Charts in UK

In 1995, the song "Straight to My Feet" featuring Deion Sanders and Hammer, from the Street Fighter soundtrack (released in December 1994), charted at No. 57 in the UK.

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1996: Two-way starter

During the 1996 season, Deion Sanders concentrated on football, attended his first NFL training camp, and became only the second two-way starter in the NFL since Chuck Bednarik.

1997: Suicide Attempt

In 1997, during a difficult time in his life, Deion Sanders attempted suicide by driving a car off a cliff in Cincinnati while playing for the Reds.

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.

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: Sanders' Season with the Redskins

In 2000, Deion Sanders had an above-average statistical year playing for the Washington Redskins.

July 2001: Sanders' abrupt retirement

In July 2001, Deion Sanders abruptly retired after only playing one year 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.

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2001: Released by the Reds and Signed with Toronto Blue Jays

In 2001, Deion Sanders was released by the Cincinnati Reds after playing in only 32 games. Subsequently, he signed a minor league contract with the Toronto Blue Jays, who assigned him to the Triple-A Syracuse SkyChiefs.

December 23, 2002: Redskins waive Sanders

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: Host of Miss USA pageant

In 2002, Deion Sanders hosted the Miss USA pageant.

2003: Mentoring Devin Hester

In 2003, Deion Sanders began mentoring Devin Hester, a return specialist from Miami, counseling and advising him during his 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 in the National Women's Basketball League.

April 2004: Co-hosting GMA Dove Awards

In April 2004, Deion Sanders co-hosted the 2004 GMA Dove Awards, which were taped in late April and planned to air on UPN in May.

May 2004: UPN cancels GMA Dove Awards Broadcast

In May 2004, UPN canceled the GMA Dove Awards broadcast, which Deion Sanders co-hosted in late April, due to Sanders signing a deal with ESPN after negotiations with The NFL Today failed.

December 2004: GMA Dove Awards Aired on i Network

In December 2004, the GMA Dove Awards, co-hosted by Deion Sanders, aired on the i Network after UPN canceled the broadcast in May.

2004: Sanders comes out of retirement to play for the Ravens

In 2004, Deion Sanders announced his intention to come out of retirement after being convinced by friends. He signed a one-year deal with the Ravens to be a nickelback and chose to wear the number 37.

2004: Departure from CBS' The NFL Today

In 2004, contract negotiations with CBS' The NFL Today failed after Sanders demanded $2.5 million, and he was replaced by Shannon Sharpe.

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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: Sanders' 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 qualify for the postseason.

January 2006: Sanders' second retirement

In January 2006, Deion Sanders retired from the NFL for the second time after the Ravens failed to qualify for the postseason in 2005.

April 2006: Owner of Austin Wranglers

In April 2006, Deion Sanders became an owner of the Austin Wranglers, an Arena Football League team.

2006: Hester Drafted to the 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 tried to adopt Noel Devine, a high school running back, and eventually 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 appeared with his family on Celebrity Family Feud, competing against Caitlyn and Kris Jenner, and Kim, Kourtney, and Khloé Kardashian.

2010: Analyst on NFL Network

In 2010, Deion Sanders became an analyst on NFL Network shows such as NFL GameDay, where he breaks down the afternoon games. Sanders also joined Rich Eisen, Steve Mariucci, and Marshall Faulk on the road for Thursday Night Kickoff presented by Lexus, NFL Network's pregame show for Thursday Night Football.

2010: Celebrity Spokesperson for Monitronics

In 2010, Deion Sanders served as a celebrity spokesperson for Monitronics, a security system firm.

February 6, 2011: Super Bowl XLV Coin Toss

On February 6, 2011, Deion Sanders performed the pre-game 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 and Pro Football Hall of Fame, recognizing his outstanding achievements in both college and professional football.

April 2012: Assault Charges

In April 2012, a dispute between Deion Sanders and his estranged wife, Pilar Sanders, led to both facing misdemeanor assault charges, though a judge later ruled that neither party had committed family violence.

2012: Head Coach at Prime Prep Academy

In 2012, Deion Sanders became the head coach for the Prime Prep Academy, which he co-founded, and stayed in the position for two years.

2013: Custody Dispute

In 2013, Deion Sanders and Pilar Sanders had a bitter custody dispute over their three children, with a Texas jury granting Deion sole custody of their two sons and joint custody of their daughter.

2013: Leon Sandcastle's Appearances

In 2013, despite not being an actual NFL Draft prospect, Leon Sandcastle, Deion Sanders' alter ego, had combine videos created, including a "4.2 40 yard dash." The NFL also created a "Combine Profile" for Sandcastle, and he appeared in Rich Eisen's 'Run Rich Run' event. Sandcastle's character 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, depicted as a disguise for Deion Sanders, was created for an NFL Network Super Bowl commercial. The commercial featured Sanders suggesting he could still play at a level higher than the rookies and deciding to make a comeback as Leon Sandcastle.

2013: Controversy at Prime Prep Academy

In 2013, the executive director of Prime Prep Academy twice tried to fire Deion Sanders, including an incident where Sanders allegedly grabbed a school official.

2014: 2014 Pro Bowl and CBS Sports Analyst

In 2014, Deion Sanders served as an alumni captain for Team Sanders in the Pro Bowl. He also rejoined CBS Sports as a studio analyst for Thursday games while continuing to work for the NFL Network on Sundays.

2014: Featured on Running Wild with Bear Grylls

In 2014, Deion Sanders was featured on an episode of Running Wild with Bear Grylls, where he and Grylls hiked in the desert of southern Utah for two days.

2015: Lip Sync Battle Win

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.

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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 remained for two seasons.

2015: CEO of FOCUS Academies

In 2015, Deion Sanders was named the CEO of FOCUS Academies and head coach at Triple A Academy.

2015: Prime Prep Academy Closure

In 2015, Prime Prep Academy, co-founded by Deion Sanders, shut down due to a lack of focus on academics, poor management, and amassed debt.

January 21, 2017: Featured 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 became the offensive coordinator at Trinity Christian-Cedar Hill high school in Cedar Hill, Texas, 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, coaching his sons Shilo and Shedeur Sanders, as well as his eldest son Deion Jr.

2018: Appearance on Undercover Boss

In 2018, Deion Sanders appeared in disguise on Undercover Boss on CBS, 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), playing in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS).

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.

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, 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. He was also named the recipient of the fall 2021 Eddie Robinson Award as the season's top FCS head coach. However, Jackson State lost the 2021 Celebration Bowl to South Carolina State.

December 3, 2022: 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 flipped the recruitment of defensive back Travis Hunter, who was the number one overall recruit in the 2022 class, from Florida State to Jackson State. This was considered a historic moment for HBCU recruiting.

2023: First season as the head coach of the Colorado Buffaloes

In 2023, Deion Sanders extensively used the transfer portal to replace nearly the entire Colorado Buffaloes' roster, and the team finished the season with a 4-8 record.

2023: Named Head Coach of the Colorado Buffaloes

In 2023, Deion Sanders was appointed as the head coach of the Colorado Buffaloes football team. This marked a significant milestone in his coaching career.