College Football

Fire Deion Sanders And Colorado Loses 90% Of Team Warns Superbowl Champ

October 7, 2026

Super Bowl-winning wide receiver James Jones has issued a stark warning to Colorado’s administration, arguing that firing head coach Deion Sanders would trigger a mass exodus from the program. Jones, who played nine NFL seasons and won a championship with the Green Bay Packers, claims nearly 90% of the current roster would depart if Sanders were let go, citing the team’s explosive growth since his arrival in 2023.

Colorado has seen 169 transfers join the program while 167 players have left, with many drawn to Sanders’ high-profile leadership. Jones emphasized the financial and cultural impact, noting packed stadiums and surging ticket sales—all of which would vanish if Sanders were removed, calling it the "stupidest decision." Former NFL star LeSean McCoy echoed the sentiment, urging patience as the Buffaloes, now 2-3 with a 0-2 Big 12 record, struggle through a rough start to the season, including a 29-7 home loss to Texas Tech last weekend.

Sanders himself acknowledged the team’s struggles, calling their recent performance "horrible" after a second-half collapse that included four turnovers and two missed field goals. The offense, ranked 124th nationally in scoring, remains a major concern, particularly at quarterback, where two-year signee Julian Lewis has yet to solidify his role after being benched in a recent loss to Baylor.