Colorado football coach Deion Sanders thanked Las Vegas Raiders owner Mark Davis for allowing him to sit in his stadium suite and watch his quarterback son Shedeur beat Davis’ Raiders Sunday Nov. 23 in a 24-10 win for the Cleveland Browns.
It was Shedeur’s first start as an NFL quarterback and also the first time Deion Sanders watched his son play from a stadium seat instead of on the sideline as a coach. Sanders shared this Tuesday at his weekly news conference in Boulder and noted he returned to his job Monday for a “come-to-Jesus meeting” with his team as the Buffaloes prepare for their final game this year at Kansas State on Nov. 29. His team is 3-8 and has lost four straight games, but Sanders also stressed he’s “not a loser” and knows how to right the ship.
Advertisement
“The owner of the opposing team allowed the dad of the quarterback on the opposing team to sit in his box,” Sanders said Tuesday. “Like how many times did that happen? Like, that is unbelievable, man. So I’m so thankful and appreciative for that opportunity in that moment. That’s the first time I’ve ever watched him play without me on the sideline. I’ve never seen him play without me coaching him, so that was strange.
Deion Sanders watches during the game between the Cleveland Browns and the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium.
Sanders it was “healthy” because “I was just in straight dad mode.”
Advertisement
“I wasn’t in coach mode, and I loved that I was able to see him gain the first victory,” Sanders said.
Asked if he was a “nervous wreck” about it, Sanders dismissed that notion. He’s not known to admit being nervous about anything.
“No, no, no,” Sanders said before indicating he couldn’t answer that question the way he might have wanted. “Thank you, Lord. You know where I was going with that.”
Deion Sanders says he knows how to right the ship
Colorado often practices on Sundays. But Sanders returned to campus for a “come-to-Jesus” meeting with his team Monday as he plans to change quarterbacks again by redshirting freshman starter Julian Lewis.
Advertisement
“I know how to get it right,” Sanders said. “I’ll get it right. We’re headed in the right direction.”
Sanders said he has key pieces in place, including Lewis, and just needs a “reset” with his roster and staff.
1 / 12
See Shedeur Sanders make first NFL career start for Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders passes against the Las Vegas Raiders in the first half at Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nev. on Nov. 23, 2025.
1 / 12
See Shedeur Sanders make first NFL career start for Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders passes against the Las Vegas Raiders in the first half at Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nev. on Nov. 23, 2025.
2 / 12
See Shedeur Sanders make first NFL career start for Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders arrives before the game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nev. on Nov. 23, 2025.
3 / 12
See Shedeur Sanders make first NFL career start for Cleveland Browns
Shedeur Sanders of the Cleveland Browns warms up prior to the game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium on Nov. 23, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nev.
4 / 12
See Shedeur Sanders make first NFL career start for Cleveland Browns
Shedeur Sanders of the Cleveland Browns greets teammates prior to the game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium on Nov. 23, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nev.
5 / 12
See Shedeur Sanders make first NFL career start for Cleveland Browns
Shedeur Sanders of the Cleveland Browns takes on the field prior to the game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium on Nov. 23, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nev.
6 / 12
See Shedeur Sanders make first NFL career start for Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders warms up before the game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nev. on Nov. 23, 2025.
7 / 12
See Shedeur Sanders make first NFL career start for Cleveland Browns
Head coach Kevin Stefanski talks to Shedeur Sanders of the Cleveland Browns during the first quarter against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium on Nov. 23, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nev.
8 / 12
See Shedeur Sanders make first NFL career start for Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders throws a pass against the Las Vegas Raiders in the first half at Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nev. on Nov. 23, 2025.
9 / 12
See Shedeur Sanders make first NFL career start for Cleveland Browns
Shedeur Sanders #12 of the Cleveland Browns reacts after getting sacked by Malcolm Koonce #51 of the Las Vegas Raiders in the first quarter of a game at Allegiant Stadium on Nov. 23, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nev.
10 / 12
See Shedeur Sanders make first NFL career start for Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders (12) runs against Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Malcolm Koonce (51) in the first half at Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nev. on Nov. 23, 2025.
11 / 12
See Shedeur Sanders make first NFL career start for Cleveland Browns
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Malcolm Koonce (51) tackles Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders (12) in the first half at Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nev. on Nov. 23, 2025.
12 / 12
See Shedeur Sanders make first NFL career start for Cleveland Browns
Shedeur Sanders #12 and Quinshon Judkins #10 of the Cleveland Browns celebrate after a touchdown in the first quarter against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium on Nov. 23, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nev.
Deion Sanders: ‘I’m not a loser’
He said leaving Boulder to go see watch his son Sunday left him feeling “funky” because his team had just suffered a 42-17 loss against Arizona State the night before.
“I don’t want to take a ‘L’ with me,” Sanders said. “I wanted two ‘Ws’ you know, over the weekend (including his son’s game). And so that had me feeling a little funky, because… I don’t like that on me, man. I don’t like that.”
Advertisement
Sanders then stressed he’s “not a loser.”
“You could be a loser or a guy who lost games,” Sanders said. “I would rather be a guy who lost games than a loser, ‘cause I’m not a loser. And that bothers me, man.”
Follow reporter Brent Schrotenboer @Schrotenboer. Email: bschrotenb@usatoday.com
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Colorado coach Deion Sanders says ‘I’m not a loser’ before final game