Colorado's Deion Sanders reportedly demotes offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur after blowout

Colorado Buffaloes coach Deion Sanders reportedly demoted offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur, stripping him of play-calling duties after back-to-back losses, according to USA Today’s Brent Schrotenboer. 

Shurmur is now CU's quarterback coach, according to the report. Despite the change Sanders' team will have to overcome a series of blowouts in Big 12 play, dropping the Buffs to 3-6.

“The person didn’t want to be named because of the sensitivity of the situation,” Schrotenboer wrote. “The person said Colorado tight ends coach and passing game coordinator Brett Bartolone has called plays instead of Shurmur since the Utah game.”

Colorado head coach Deion Sanders stripped play-calling dues from offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur after the 53-7 loss at Utah Oct. 25, a person with knowledge of the move told USA TODAY Sports https://t.co/fV4soesdWW

This is the second time Sanders made a change at offensive coordinator at Colorado. He promoted Shurmur from an analyst position in 2023, turning away from Sean Lewis, who left after that season to become the head coach at San Diego State. 

Shurmur had a lengthy coaching resume between the NFL and college over the past three decades. He earned AP NFL Assistant Coach of the Year in 2017. His peak was taking over as head coach from the Cleveland Browns for two seasons starting in 2011. 

Colorado has a new play-caller and new starting quarterback with Julian Lewis for Saturday's game against West Virginia. The former five-star freshman got his first career touchdown last week against Arizona.

Both Colorado and West Virginia have a 3-6 record on the season. They try to escape the Big 12 basement on Saturday (Noon ET, TNT).  

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