Colorado's Deion Sanders posts motivational message ahead of son's first NFL game with Browns

Deion Sanders was absent for most of the spring and summer in Boulder, leading some to question whether he was still fully committed to coaching the program—especially now that his sons are no longer on the team. Even Deshaun Watson’s quarterback coach, Quincy Avery, publicly raised doubts about Sanders' continued passion for the game.

“It’s going to get really difficult and Deion Sanders is going to have to make a real decision,” Quincy Avery said. “Was he doing this the whole time to prop his son up and help him become this top-tier quarterback, which he did, or does he want to do this because he really cares about the kids? He's never coached a team in which his son did not play for. This is brand new to him; so we get to see who he is as a person when he has to take on this team without his sons involved.”

Sanders' absence throughout the spring and most of the summer was initially unexplained, raising concerns among fans and media alike. Eventually, he revealed that he had been battling bladder cancer. In a video, he shared that the illness had reached a point so serious he felt compelled to write a will.

“Mentally, emotionally, last night was tough, yesterday was tough, because I had to make a will. That’s not easy at all, to think that you may not be here,” Sanders said.

On Friday morning, Sanders posted a message on social media centered around the theme of opportunity.

“We all have needs & we all desire Opportunity! If given opportunity u may not be where u are now. Opportunity is like the dream we had when we were younger. We must be prepared for the opportunity we're praying for. The right opportunity will change your life,” Sanders posted.

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Sanders may have posted this message as encouragement for his son, Shedeur Sanders, who is making his first preseason start for the Cleveland Browns. It could be his way of communicating support and offering motivation. Alternatively, it might simply be a reflection of his own mindset—an uplifting message from someone who has recently faced significant health battles.