Every day, there is a new story about Deion Sanders, who continues to dominate headlines. ESPN analyst Paul Finebaum, a harsh critic of the former Dallas Cowboys star, once again discussed Coach Prime changing teams but not to the NFL.
It’s no secret that the 57-year-old Pro Football Hall of Famer has a larger-than-life personality and ties to multiple high-profile organizations. Finebaum floated a possibility about Sanders’ next move that could shake the foundations of football.
Paul Finebaum Sees Deion Sanders Challenging the Likes of Kirby Smart and Nick Saban
Finebaum suggested that if current Colorado Buffaloes head coach doesn’t head to the NFL, particularly landing in Dallas, he could switch to the Southeastern Conference from the Big 12 in the CFB landscape and redefine college football dominance.
Speaking on ESPN’s Get Up, the 69-year-old sportscaster painted a picture of Sanders making his name in the SEC. “There might not be any openings this year, but next year there could be significant ones,” Finebaum said. “Nick Saban might be gone, and while Kirby Smart is the best coach right now, Deion Sanders would blow the place out.”
"He would take that league by storm."
—@finebaum on what it would look like if Deion Sanders went to the SEC 🍿 pic.twitter.com/aUWO6jXHVE
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) November 22, 2024
Finebaum’s comments are a contrasting shift in his stance on Coach Prime, whom he has critiqued in the past. But it’s hard to ignore the allure of Coach Prime in the most competitive league in college football.
Sanders and his $45 million net worth has also been linked to the Cowboys to take the reins for Jerry Jones’ team, where he played from 1995 to 1999 and became one of the NFL’s greatest cornerbacks.
Finebaum’s words differ from last week’s when he stressed that Sanders could potentially struggle with the complexities of college football. “Dealing with the portal, dealing with the NIL, dealing with the bureaucracy of administrators, I don’t think long-term will suit him. He can do so much more, especially with someone like Jerry Jones…”
Rumors have swirled that Jones, known for making big, headline-grabbing decisions, could target Coach Prime as the next head coach. However, the Colorado head coach publicly downplayed his interest coaching in the NFL in his response to former teammate Michael Irvin.
.@michaelirvin88 asked @DeionSanders about coaching the Cowboys… Watch until the end to see Prime's response 😂 pic.twitter.com/wonYbtDR4H
— Speak (@SpeakOnFS1) November 13, 2024
Whether Sanders stays at Colorado, switches to the SEC, or returns to the NFL as a coach, his next move is set to be a blockbuster.