Brent Schrotenboer, USA TODAYSat, November 29, 2025 at 10:34 PM UTC·5 min readColorado coach Deion Sanders made a bold promise about the future of his football team after a 24-14 loss at Kansas State on Saturday in the final game of his third season in charge.
He called it the "Last Supper” — a Biblical reference to the last supper of Christ before his crucifixion and resurrection. After finishing the season with a 3-9 record, it was the last thing Sanders said to reporters before heading back home to make “severe changes” to his roster and coaching staff.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement“If anybody's built to reconcile and to get this back on course, it’s me,” Sanders said after the game in Manhattan, Kansas. “And I will do it if it's the last thing I do on Earth. Trust me when I tell you: This was the last supper. God bless you.”
Sanders also reminded reporters that he’s “not a loser.”
“I don’t handle it well,” he said. “I don’t cope well.”
Head coach Deion Sanders of the Colorado Buffaloes walks the sideline during the first quarter against the Wyoming Cowboys at Folsom Field on Sept. 20, 2025 in Boulder, Colo.
Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders reacts after a play during the third quarter against the Houston Cougars at TDECU Stadium in Houston on Sept. 12, 2025.
Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders before the game against the Delaware Fightin Blue Hens on Sept. 6, 2025 at Folsom Field in Boulder, Colo.
Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders congratulates Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Kaidon Salter following a touchdown pass in the first quarter against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Folsom Field in Boulder, Colo. on Aug. 29, 2025.
2025: Colorado head coach Deion Sanders and head coach Todd Bowles look on during the 2025 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center on July 23, 2025 in Tampa, Florida.
2025: Colorado head coach Deion Sanders speaks with the media during 2025 Big 12 Football Media Days at The Star on July 9, 2025 in Frisco, Texas.
2025: Head coach Deion Sanders of the Colorado Buffaloes looks on as a field goal drill is attempted in the Black and Gold Spring Game at Folsom Field on April 19, 2025 in Boulder, Colorado.
2025: Head coach Deion Sanders of the Colorado Buffaloes walks on the field during the Black and Gold Spring Game at Folsom Field on April 19, 2025 in Boulder, Colorado.
2024: Deion Sanders embraces Travis Hunter after the wide receiver/cornerback won the 2024 Heisman Trophy.
2024: Head coach Deion Sanders of the Colorado Buffaloes watches from the sidelines during the second half of the NCAAF game against the Arizona Wildcats at Arizona Stadium on October 19, 2024 in Tucson, Arizona.
2024: Head coach Deion Sanders of the Colorado Buffaloes watches as his team plays their spring game at Folsom Field on April 27, 2024 in Boulder, Colorado.
2024: Shilo Sanders (21), Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders, quarterback Shedeur Sanders (2) and social media producer Deion Sanders Jr. following a win against the Oklahoma State Cowboys at Folsom Field.
2023: Colorado football coach Deion Sanders and celebrity guest picker Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson exchange pleasantries on the set of ESPN College GameDay prior to the Buffaloes game against Colorado State at Folsom Field on Boulder, Colorado.
2023: Colorado coach Deion Sanders in attendance before the national championship game.
2022: Deion Sanders is introduced as the head coach of the University of Colorado.
2022: Deion Sanders during the Celebration Bowl. Sanders went 27-6 in three seasons leading Jackson State.
2021: Deion Sanders coaches during the Celebration Bowl. Sanders required a scooter following blood clot issues that ultimately led to the amputation of some toes.
2017: Deion Sanders, working for NFL Network, interviews New England Patriots running back LeGarrette Blount during Super Bowl LI Opening Night at Minute Maid Park.
Melissa Stark (left), Deion Sanders (center) and Kurt Warner (right) smile during an NFL Network broadcast at the Super Bowl XLIX NFL Experience at the Phoenix Convention Center on Jan. 26, 2015.
Rich Eisen (left), Deion Sanders (center) and Michael Irvin on the NFL Network set before the "Thursday Night Football" game between the Houston Texans and the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Field on Dec. 5, 2013.
2013: Deion Sanders as "Leon Sandcastle" of Primetime University arrives on the red carpet prior to the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall in New York City.
NFL network broadcaster Deion Sanders interviews San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Michael Crabtree during media day in preparation for Super Bowl XLVII against the Baltimore Ravens at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on Jan. 29, 2013.
2011: Former Atlanta Falcons cornerback Deion Sanders poses with his bust at the Enshrinement Ceremony for the Pro Football Hall of Fame on August 6, 2011 in Canton, Ohio.
Deion Sanders makes his return to football with the Baltimore Ravens after a three-year retirement in the 2004 season opener iat Cleveland Browns Stadium on Sept. 12, 2004. The Browns beat the Ravens, 20-3, in the game.
2003: Deion Sanders and family celebrate Kids Day at the New York Knicks vs. New Orleans Hornets NBA game at Madison Square Garden in New York, on Nov. 29, 2003.
2000: Washington's Deion Sanders jukes the Detroit Lions' Brock Olivo at the Silverdome in Pontiac, Michigan, on Sept. 10, 2000.
1999: Dallas Cowboys defensive back Deion Sanders acknowleges the cheering crowd after intercepting his first pass of the game versus the Miami Dolphins at Texas Stadium, November 25,1999 in Irving, Texas.
The Dallas Cowboys' Deion Sanders outdistances Indianapolis Colts defensive back Tito Wooten to score a touchdown at the RCA Dome on Oct. 31, 1999.
1997: Deion Sanders at the plate for the Cincinnati Reds during the 1997 season. The Reds were among four different MLB teams that Sanders played for during a nine-season career.
On Oct. 11, 1992, Deion Sanders played in a game against the Miami Dolphins, then flew to Pittsburgh for the Atlanta Braves' NLCS game against the Pirates (he did not appear in the game).
Atlanta Falcons defensive back Deion Sanders (21) on a kick return against the Green Bay Packers at Fulton County Stadium on Dec. 1, 1991.
The Atlanta Braves' Deion Sanders bats against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on July 7, 1991.
The Atlanta Falcons' Deion Sanders in action against the Dallas Cowboys at Fulton County Stadium on Sept. 17, 1989.
Deion Sanders was a two-time All-American, the 1988 Jim Thorpe Award winner and a 2011 College Football Hall of Fame inductee.1 / 34See Deion Sanders' 'Prime Time' career in football, baseball and coaching
Head coach Deion Sanders of the Colorado Buffaloes walks the sideline during the first quarter against the Wyoming Cowboys at Folsom Field on Sept. 20, 2025 in Boulder, Colo.1 / 34See Deion Sanders' 'Prime Time' career in football, baseball and coaching
Head coach Deion Sanders of the Colorado Buffaloes walks the sideline during the first quarter against the Wyoming Cowboys at Folsom Field on Sept. 20, 2025 in Boulder, Colo.2 / 34See Deion Sanders' 'Prime Time' career in football, baseball and coaching
Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders reacts after a play during the third quarter against the Houston Cougars at TDECU Stadium in Houston on Sept. 12, 2025.3 / 34See Deion Sanders' 'Prime Time' career in football, baseball and coaching
Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders before the game against the Delaware Fightin Blue Hens on Sept. 6, 2025 at Folsom Field in Boulder, Colo.4 / 34See Deion Sanders' 'Prime Time' career in football, baseball and coaching
Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders congratulates Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Kaidon Salter following a touchdown pass in the first quarter against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Folsom Field in Boulder, Colo. on Aug. 29, 2025.5 / 34See Deion Sanders' 'Prime Time' career in football, baseball and coaching
2025: Colorado head coach Deion Sanders and head coach Todd Bowles look on during the 2025 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center on July 23, 2025 in Tampa, Florida.6 / 34See Deion Sanders' 'Prime Time' career in football, baseball and coaching
2025: Colorado head coach Deion Sanders speaks with the media during 2025 Big 12 Football Media Days at The Star on July 9, 2025 in Frisco, Texas.7 / 34See Deion Sanders' 'Prime Time' career in football, baseball and coaching
2025: Head coach Deion Sanders of the Colorado Buffaloes looks on as a field goal drill is attempted in the Black and Gold Spring Game at Folsom Field on April 19, 2025 in Boulder, Colorado.8 / 34See Deion Sanders' 'Prime Time' career in football, baseball and coaching
2025: Head coach Deion Sanders of the Colorado Buffaloes walks on the field during the Black and Gold Spring Game at Folsom Field on April 19, 2025 in Boulder, Colorado.9 / 34See Deion Sanders' 'Prime Time' career in football, baseball and coaching
2024: Deion Sanders embraces Travis Hunter after the wide receiver/cornerback won the 2024 Heisman Trophy.10 / 34See Deion Sanders' 'Prime Time' career in football, baseball and coaching
2024: Head coach Deion Sanders of the Colorado Buffaloes watches from the sidelines during the second half of the NCAAF game against the Arizona Wildcats at Arizona Stadium on October 19, 2024 in Tucson, Arizona.11 / 34See Deion Sanders' 'Prime Time' career in football, baseball and coaching
2024: Head coach Deion Sanders of the Colorado Buffaloes watches as his team plays their spring game at Folsom Field on April 27, 2024 in Boulder, Colorado.12 / 34See Deion Sanders' 'Prime Time' career in football, baseball and coaching
2024: Shilo Sanders (21), Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders, quarterback Shedeur Sanders (2) and social media producer Deion Sanders Jr. following a win against the Oklahoma State Cowboys at Folsom Field.13 / 34See Deion Sanders' 'Prime Time' career in football, baseball and coaching
2023: Colorado football coach Deion Sanders and celebrity guest picker Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson exchange pleasantries on the set of ESPN College GameDay prior to the Buffaloes game against Colorado State at Folsom Field on Boulder, Colorado.14 / 34See Deion Sanders' 'Prime Time' career in football, baseball and coaching
2023: Colorado coach Deion Sanders in attendance before the national championship game.15 / 34See Deion Sanders' 'Prime Time' career in football, baseball and coaching
2022: Deion Sanders is introduced as the head coach of the University of Colorado.16 / 34See Deion Sanders' 'Prime Time' career in football, baseball and coaching
2022: Deion Sanders during the Celebration Bowl. Sanders went 27-6 in three seasons leading Jackson State.17 / 34See Deion Sanders' 'Prime Time' career in football, baseball and coaching
2021: Deion Sanders coaches during the Celebration Bowl. Sanders required a scooter following blood clot issues that ultimately led to the amputation of some toes.18 / 34See Deion Sanders' 'Prime Time' career in football, baseball and coaching
2017: Deion Sanders, working for NFL Network, interviews New England Patriots running back LeGarrette Blount during Super Bowl LI Opening Night at Minute Maid Park.19 / 34See Deion Sanders' 'Prime Time' career in football, baseball and coaching
Melissa Stark (left), Deion Sanders (center) and Kurt Warner (right) smile during an NFL Network broadcast at the Super Bowl XLIX NFL Experience at the Phoenix Convention Center on Jan. 26, 2015.20 / 34See Deion Sanders' 'Prime Time' career in football, baseball and coaching
Rich Eisen (left), Deion Sanders (center) and Michael Irvin on the NFL Network set before the "Thursday Night Football" game between the Houston Texans and the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Field on Dec. 5, 2013.21 / 34See Deion Sanders' 'Prime Time' career in football, baseball and coaching
2013: Deion Sanders as "Leon Sandcastle" of Primetime University arrives on the red carpet prior to the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall in New York City.22 / 34See Deion Sanders' 'Prime Time' career in football, baseball and coaching
NFL network broadcaster Deion Sanders interviews San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Michael Crabtree during media day in preparation for Super Bowl XLVII against the Baltimore Ravens at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on Jan. 29, 2013.23 / 34See Deion Sanders' 'Prime Time' career in football, baseball and coaching
2011: Former Atlanta Falcons cornerback Deion Sanders poses with his bust at the Enshrinement Ceremony for the Pro Football Hall of Fame on August 6, 2011 in Canton, Ohio.24 / 34See Deion Sanders' 'Prime Time' career in football, baseball and coaching
Deion Sanders makes his return to football with the Baltimore Ravens after a three-year retirement in the 2004 season opener iat Cleveland Browns Stadium on Sept. 12, 2004. The Browns beat the Ravens, 20-3, in the game.25 / 34See Deion Sanders' 'Prime Time' career in football, baseball and coaching
2003: Deion Sanders and family celebrate Kids Day at the New York Knicks vs. New Orleans Hornets NBA game at Madison Square Garden in New York, on Nov. 29, 2003.
26 / 34See Deion Sanders' 'Prime Time' career in football, baseball and coaching
2000: Washington's Deion Sanders jukes the Detroit Lions' Brock Olivo at the Silverdome in Pontiac, Michigan, on Sept. 10, 2000.
27 / 34See Deion Sanders' 'Prime Time' career in football, baseball and coaching
1999: Dallas Cowboys defensive back Deion Sanders acknowleges the cheering crowd after intercepting his first pass of the game versus the Miami Dolphins at Texas Stadium, November 25,1999 in Irving, Texas.28 / 34See Deion Sanders' 'Prime Time' career in football, baseball and coaching
The Dallas Cowboys' Deion Sanders outdistances Indianapolis Colts defensive back Tito Wooten to score a touchdown at the RCA Dome on Oct. 31, 1999.29 / 34See Deion Sanders' 'Prime Time' career in football, baseball and coaching
1997: Deion Sanders at the plate for the Cincinnati Reds during the 1997 season. The Reds were among four different MLB teams that Sanders played for during a nine-season career.
30 / 34See Deion Sanders' 'Prime Time' career in football, baseball and coaching
On Oct. 11, 1992, Deion Sanders played in a game against the Miami Dolphins, then flew to Pittsburgh for the Atlanta Braves' NLCS game against the Pirates (he did not appear in the game).31 / 34See Deion Sanders' 'Prime Time' career in football, baseball and coaching
Atlanta Falcons defensive back Deion Sanders (21) on a kick return against the Green Bay Packers at Fulton County Stadium on Dec. 1, 1991.32 / 34See Deion Sanders' 'Prime Time' career in football, baseball and coaching
The Atlanta Braves' Deion Sanders bats against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on July 7, 1991.33 / 34See Deion Sanders' 'Prime Time' career in football, baseball and coaching
The Atlanta Falcons' Deion Sanders in action against the Dallas Cowboys at Fulton County Stadium on Sept. 17, 1989.34 / 34See Deion Sanders' 'Prime Time' career in football, baseball and coaching
Deion Sanders was a two-time All-American, the 1988 Jim Thorpe Award winner and a 2011 College Football Hall of Fame inductee.The Buffaloes finished with five straight losses and beat only one team with a winning record in 2025 (Iowa State). They were also 0-5 in road games and 1-8 in the Big 12 Conference.
“We won’t be in this situation again, I promise you that,” Sanders said. “I can promise you that, because I’m not happy with nothing right now. Nothing.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementWhat happened in Deion Sanders’ final game of 2025?
His team showed a heartbeat despite the cold and snowy conditions in front of an announced crowd of 49,549. The Buffaloes even pulled to within 17-14 with 7:03 remaining after 1-yard touchdown run by running back Micah Welch. But then the bottom fell out on the next defensive series. Kansas State running back Joe Jackson burst up the middle, broke a tackle and spun loose into the end zone for a 17-yard score with 2:43 remaining to help put his team 24-14.
In response, the Buffs couldn’t move the ball past the Kansas State 42-yard line and turned the ball over on downs after a sack. Sanders even declined to use its final two timeouts.
Jackson finished the game with 142 yards and three touchdowns on 26 carries.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementSanders said afterward that change is the first order of business when he returns to Boulder.
“I see everything being different, even me,” Sanders said of next season.
Colorado players blame lack of leadership
Senior quarterback Kaidon Salter made his ninth start of the season for Colorado, this time replacing freshman Julian Lewis, who sat out the game to take a redshirt year this season. Salter completed 14-of-25 passes for 172 yards with one interception.
The Buffs used three quarterbacks this year, including two starts for Lewis and one for sophomore Ryan Staub.
“We been playing a lot of different quarterbacks,” Salter said afterward. “Nobody really knew who that guy was from spring ball to now.”
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementSalter said that helped create a leadership void after the departure of last year’s starting quarterback, Shedeur Sanders, Deion’s son.
“Sometimes when it’s one week you’re starting here, then the next you’re on the bench, so now you want to listen to this guy instead of this guy,” Salter said. “So it was just, it was a lot of confusion in our room, but I’m sure next year, they’ll be way better with it.”
Colorado linebacker Jeremiah Brown added that natural leaders don’t need to "try" to lead.
“It just naturally happens,” Brown said. “And unfortunately, we just didn’t have very many of those.”
What will Deion Sanders do now?
Changes are in store for his coaching staff. Running backs coach Marshall Faulk is expected to be named the new head coach of Southern on Monday. Offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur was stripped of play-calling duties this year with a contract expiring in January.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementTheir roster is another matter. Sanders hopes to keep a core group of top players, including Lewis, the quarterback, who said he is committed to staying at Colorado. Standout offensive tackle Jordan Seaton might be a harder sell with one season left before he’s expected to leave for the NFL.
Sanders was asked about talent retention after the game.
“The No. 1 reason people leave is money,” Sanders said. He said that wasn't an excuse. But “it helps,” he said.
It's also clear his program needs more than just another offseason commitment to getting stronger and bigger physically.
“It could make them look like Tarzan,” he said. “But we can’t play like Jane.”
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementSanders even credited reporters for putting up with what they say this year.
"God bless you guys," he said to them. "You guys have been kind even considering the foolishness that you saw on the field and on the sideline this whole year. I appreciate you guys... You don't have to go easy on me. I'm a big boy. I've been doing this for a long time. And when I win, I don't mind a clap. When I lose, I don't mind a boo. I played this game. I know this game, like the back of my hand. And I love this game. And I love all the ups and downs and ins and outs about it. And I'm built for every last bit of it."
Sanders' three-year record at Colorado is now 16-21, including a 4-8 season in 2023, followed by 9-4 last year.
Follow reporter Brent Schrotenboer @Schrotenboer. Email: [email protected]
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Deion Sanders promises fix for Colorado football 'if it's the last thing I do'
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