After insisting he wouldn't jump to the NFL unless he could coach his two sons, University of Colorado head football coach Deion Sanders has been linked to a job in the professional ranks.
Just a few days ago, Sanders appeared on Good Morning America's 'GMA3,' where he revealed that he wanted to coach his two sons who jumped to Colorado with him: quarterback Shedeur Sanders and safety Shilo Sanders.
'Did you know? The only way I would consider it is to train my kids. No son, son-y,” Sanders revealed. When a GMA host pointed out that his answer wasn't a 'no,' he continued, 'I love Colorado. I love my Buffaloes, I love everything we are building. I love everything we are doing. And I love Boulder, Colorado. Yes. Immensely.'
Cut to three days later: the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports that Sanders has “a strong interest” in the Las Vegas Raiders' top job.
A newspaper source said Sanders associates with connections to the league contacted the team to inform them of his interest.
Las Vegas is one of six NFL teams with a head coaching vacancy after the team made the decision to fire Antonio Pierce.
Colorado head coach Deion Sanders has reportedly indicated interest in the Raiders' job.
New Raiders co-owner Tom Brady is reportedly leading the team's search for a coach.
Sanders wants to coach his two sons in the NFL, including QB Shedeur Sanders (above)
Pierce won the job after going 5-4 on an interim basis in 2023 when the team fired Josh McDaniels. But just a 4-13 season with a poor quarterback situation and an underperforming offense was enough for owner Mark Davis to move on from him.
Now, co-owner and future Hall of Famer Tom Brady is leading the coaching search. He is also searching for a new general manager after the Raiders fired Tom Telesco on Thursday.
The Raiders have already interviewed Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn and Kansas City Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo. They have scheduled interviews with former Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll and former New York Jets coach Robert Saleh next week.
The Review-Journal says it's unclear if the Raiders are as interested in 'Coach Prime' as he is in them.
Las Vegas has the sixth pick in the NFL Draft and by that time Shedeur Sanders is expected to have been selected. Most mockers project him to be taken with the first three picks: either to the Tennessee Titans, Cleveland Browns or the New York Giants.
If Deion's words on GMA3 are to be taken as fact, it's possible that if the Raiders sign him, then he'll probably try to trade up to take Shedeur.
The Raiders haven't won a playoff game since the 2002 AFC Championship. They then lost Super Bowl XXXVII to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Since that Super Bowl loss, they have only made the playoffs twice.