Deion Sanders this, Deion Sanders that. For the past two days, the NFL world has been all in on Coach Prime-to-the-Dallas Cowboys rumors ever since the Colorado Buffaloes head coach confirmed via ESPN’s Adam Schefter that he had a conversation with owner Jerry Jones.
However, Adam Jones, a former NFL cornerback for the Cowboys, has given his verdict on who will be the next Dallas head coach, and it’s not Sanders.
Adam Jones Rains on Fans’ Parade Who Dreamt of Deion Sanders in Dallas
Rumors linking Sanders to the Cowboys job were at their peak, but former NFL player “Pacman” Jones killed the hype.
Speaking on “The Pat McAfee Show,” Jones dismissed the possibility, asserting that Sanders is staying put in Colorado unless a highly unlikely scenario arises.
"The next Dallas Cowboys Head Coach is gonna be Kellen Moore..
Deion Sanders isn't leaving Colorado unless he's able to coach both of his sons..
I don't think Deion is going to Jerry World"@REALPACMAN24 #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/zOtsWaUUkm
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) January 17, 2025
“Deion is not leaving Colorado by no means necessary unless he can coach both his sons,” Jones stated. He suggested that Kellen Moore, not Sanders, is the front-runner for the Cowboys job, citing Moore’s strong ties with the organization. Jones also hinted at insider information pointing to other coaching moves, such as Ben Johnson potentially landing with the Las Vegas Raiders.
“OK, like real good sources, I’m talking about, like, real good sources, as we shall say, I don’t think Deion is going nowhere. I think it was good entertainment, but I don’t think Deion is going to Jerry World,” Jones added.
The speculation gained traction after former ESPN reporter Ed Werder claimed that Sanders “would almost certainly accept” an offer from Cowboys owner Jerry Jones.
Regarding Deion Sanders: I’m being told that he would almost certainly accept if Jerry Jones offers to make him the next #Cowboys head coach, that those around him are encouraging him to pursue it and that Jones is enamored with the idea.
— Ed Werder (@WerderEdNFL) January 16, 2025
Sanders himself called the idea “intriguing” but emphasized his commitment to Colorado. “I love Boulder, [Colo.,] and everything about our team, coaches, and community,” Sanders told Schefter earlier this week.
The financial aspect adds another layer to the debate. Jones would need to pay an $8 million buyout to free Sanders from his Colorado contract and offer a lucrative NFL coaching deal. Schefter revealed on McAfee’s show that, while Jerry has the resources, the buyout isn’t insignificant.
“If Jerry wants to take a big swing and go for Deion, go pay the buyout — which again, I don’t think he’d be thrilled about doing — there are ways to navigate that. Maybe he partners with Netflix or finds another creative way to offset the cost,” the NFL insider speculated.
Coach Prime, 57, has been a transformative force in Boulder, turning a struggling program into a contender. In 2024, Sanders guided the Buffaloes to a 9-3 record, an Alamo Bowl appearance against the BYU Cougars, and helped Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter to realize his potential, not to mention tutoring his quarterback son Shedeur Sanders.
While he enjoyed success at the collegiate level, Sanders has repeatedly downplayed interest in NFL coaching. As Dallas is exploring other options, including Robert Saleh, Leslie Frazier, and Kellen Moore, a “Coach Prime” pairing remains a tantalizing prospect for the front office, even though logistical hurdles and Sanders’ current priorities suggest the union is far from imminent.