University of Colorado head football coach Deion Sanders had actress Karrueche Tran by his side as he underwent surgery to remove his bladder after doctors found a cancerous tumor in May, as seen in footage shared on his son’s YouTube channel.
Sanders, who took time away from the team in the spring for an unspecified health issue, revealed he is cancer-free since the bladder removal surgery in a Monday press conference in Boulder — where the 57-year-old coach answered questions with Dr. Janet Kukreja, director of urological oncology at University of Colorado Cancer Center.
Shortly thereafter, Deion Sanders Jr. shared the behind-the-scenes video of his father’s health journey on YouTube, titled, “For Your Glory (Part 1): Coach Prime Bladder Removal Surgery,” which showed Tran crying by the Hall of Famer’s bedside in the hospital.
“We are at the hospital because we are dealing with… bladder cancer,” Tran, 37, said while taking a pause to cry. “He’s having his bladder removed and they will create a new bladder with one of his intestines. And this option was I guess the best because it fully removes the cancer. to ensure it won’t come back because it was close to his muscle.”
Sanders, who was sitting on the edge of the bed, said that he didn’t know if he was ready, mentally or emotionally, because he had to make a will the night before the surgery.
Tran held Sanders’ hand as he was escorted on a gurney to the operating room.
It’s unclear if Sanders and Tran are dating.
Sanders and his long-time fiancée, TV producer Tracey Edmonds, split after 12 years together in December 2023.
Later in the video, it was revealed that Sanders was diagnosed with bladder cancer on April 14. He underwent surgery to remove his bladder on May 9.
“I cannot control my bladder,” Sanders said during his press conference Monday. “So I get up to go to the bathroom already 4-5 times a night. And I’m sitting there waking up like my grandson. We in the same thing. We got the same problem right now. We’re going through the same trials and tribulations.”
It was his 14th surgery since 2021. Sanders previously dealt with blood clots in his legs.
In 2021, he had his left big toe and second toe amputated due to blood clots.
Sanders was in Tampa Bay for the first day of Buccaneers training camp on Wednesday as his son, undrafted rookie safety Shilo Sanders, is playing for a roster spot.
Sanders, who coached Colorado to a 9-4 record in his second season with the team, agreed to a five-year, $54 million contract extension in March.
The Buffaloes open the 2025 season against Georgia Tech on Aug. 29 in Boulder.