Deion Sanders makes Nike history with surprise Shedeur announcement

Deion Sanders just did something during Super Bowl week that has never been done before in the sneaker world. There's now a legacy continuation in the family. 

When Sanders took the job with the Colorado Buffaloes, there was a sizable hurdle before a game would be played. Sanders had been represented Under Armour for over a decade, but that wasn't going to last. Colorado was Nike school with an established contract.

Nike and Sanders reconciled their relationship in a matter of days. Those two sneaker icons reuniting created an idea and anticipation that many in the sneaker culture gladly welcomed. The return of the Diamond Turf line after a highly successful run in the 90s. 

Getting Sanders and Nike back together was an important step. Deion away from Nike was like a sports world where the Yankees, Lakers, and Packers aren’t good. The sneaker world is better off when they are together.

The Diamond Turf 3 and "converted lows"

The Nike Air Diamond Turf signature line created for in 1994 made a comeback. It's was one of the design cornerstones that shaped Nike into the No. 1 athletic shoe retailer in the world. An evolution of shoe technology in a space that had become innovation stagnant.

The Diamond Turf combines the support and demands required by a game like football with design concepts from other sports. Namely basketball. Sanders was a different type of athlete, and a typical cross trainer was never going to work. The Diamond Turf changed the trajectory of football cleats and sneakers forever.

According to Nice Kicks, Sanders made an appearance at the San Francisco Shoe Palace location. While this was a planned speaking engagement for Coach Prime, that would be very secondary to the sneaker news he would provide. Shedeur Sanders was carry on the next wave for Nike. 

Nike put Shedeur Sanders’ face on this new DT Max ‘96 Low colorway 👀🔥 pic.twitter.com/NWhN5UdBU5

Let’s be perfectly clear, this is not a retro because a DT3 low has never been produced and certainly wasn’t "previously successful."

This is a "converted low." Meaning they took a design that came out in a mid or a high and decided to turn into a low much later in the timeline. Converted lows tend to garner mixed reviews. Traditionalists are not often fans of chopping off the top third of a shoe a selling it as a new version of the original. If this was simply a converted low, it would not be breaking news.

The Jordan 11, Nike Dunk, Jordan 1, Barkleys, just to name a few, initially released as mids and highs, that were later converted to lows. The style has become popular with younger fans. 

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Nike signature athletes opting for low versions has been well-known. Kobe Bryant, Ja Morant, Devin Booker and others have all gotten in line. In the last few years, Los Angeles Lakers superstar Lebron James has donned low versions of his signature basketball shoe made to look like Diamond Turfs.  

The DT3 low is a 'legacy continuation' shoe

A legacy continuation product line might sound unfamiliar. While the concept has existed for some time, there has never been a situation that actually called for it. In the simplest of terms, the Diamond Turf 3 low is not a Deion Sanders shoe. It’s a Shedeur Sanders shoe.

The DT3 low has a few design choices that were never present in the original design.

• Inkblot Shedeur logo in the max air window. The original had an inkblot logo of a young Deion-complete with bandana
• A mesh underlay that runs the length of the flame work. The original design was completely solid nubuck or leather beyond the huarache inner sock
• A floating Nike Swoosh on the mesh toe box. The original had no logos forward of the cross strap. The low has no cross strap
• Speed lacing system includes first and fourth loops with a 'zig zag stitch' often associated with sports jerseys. 
• The heel counter and the lateral Swoosh are different. The lateral Swoosh is 'rounded' instead of just stitched. The heel counter Swoosh is twice the size and in a more prominent position.

'QB1' might be necessary to release the official line

A Shedeur Sanders signature line has been on the table since Deion reconciled with Nike. Shedeur himself even confirmed Nike was working on something with him two years ago. The historical draft slide and offseason narratives likely derailed some of that timing.

The question around a Shedeur signature has always been, can he get to that level and would it be original or a continuation? Shedeur will likely need to do his part on the field. Nike has never given a signature line to a backup or a player who’s playing time is up in the air.

More: Deion Sanders leaks girlfriend Karrueche Tran details and what he 'loves most'

If Shedeur is named the Browns starting QB for week 1 and moving forward in the 2026 season, a signature line could get green lit with shoes releasing that are specific to Shedeur, while still being born of the Diamond Turf inspiration. The early indications being, that future signature shoe line could very well be the first ever legacy continuation shoe line ever created.

There have been many elite superstar athletes that had kids that chose to play the same sport. We’ve just never seen one of those ‘legacy children’ grow up to be good enough at the pro level for a legacy continuation line to make practical sense. Until now.  

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• Deion Sanders buyout, contract details as Colorado Buffaloes coach
• Top 2026 NFL Draft prospect suffers broken rib in CFP quarterfinal loss
• Dabo Swinney fires Clemson coaches immediately after loss to Penn State
• Ohio State's Ryan Day faces backlash after Cotton Bowl