Deion Sanders

Deion Sanders has denied a report that he is assembling an all-star coaching staff to join him at Jackson State University.

Joe Cook of 16 WAPT News in Jackson, Mississippi, reported Pro Football Hall of Famers Terrell Owens and Warren Sapp will serve as assistants on Sanders' staff. The tweet has since been deleted.

Before the post was removed, however, Sanders quickly denied that report:

Sapp also took to social media to quiet the buzz—in a very bold manner:

Sanders announced on his 21st & Prime podcast that he would be taking over as head coach at Jackson State. 

"God called me to Jackson State," he said (h/t Rashad Milligan of the Mississippi Clarion-Ledger). 

Sanders issued a statement when the school announced his hiring on Monday:

"I am truly blessed to be the 21st Head football coach of Jackson State University. This amazing HBCU has always enjoyed a high level of commitment academically and athletically. It's my desire to continue this storied tradition and history of JSU and prayerfully bring more national recognition to the athletes, the university, the Sonic Boom of the South, and HBCUs in general. I am TRULY proud to be a part of the JSU Tiger family. 'I BELIEVE'"

The Tigers will be Sanders' first foray into head coaching at the college level. He spent the previous three seasons as offensive coordinator at Trinity Christian High School in Texas. 

Sanders' connections from his playing career and work as a television analyst for the NFL Network would seem to make it easier for him to build an elite coaching staff to help turn Jackson State into a power program in the FCS.  

The rumors are true: Deion Sanders is coming to Jackson State. The Hall of Fame cornerback announced on his 21st & Prime podcast that he will take over as the HBCU's next head football coach. 

"Why not? Isn't this the time?" Sanders said. "Isn't this the moment? Isn't this what's needed? To match what our president eloquently said, it's a match made in heaven. This is a God move."

Sanders has been the offensive coordinator at Trinity Christian School (TX) since 2017. In addition to his role at Jackson State, he will remain at Barstool Sports as an NFL analyst and podcast host.

"It's very big for Jackson State University," Jackson State athletic director Ashley Robinson said. "Not only for Jackson State University, this is very big for the country right now. Very big for the state of Mississippi. To Coach Prime, Jackson State University—a blue-blood program full of Hall of Famers—it's just a great time."

Jackson State is expected to officially announce Sanders' hiring Monday.

Sanders will take over a program that has fallen on hard times for nearly a decade. Jackson State has not had a winning season since 2013 and let go of coach John Hendrick after a 4-8 campaign in 2019. The program has not reached the FCS playoffs since 1997.

Sanders, who brings with him a Hall of Fame resume and national cache Jackson State has never seen, says he's committed to bringing in pro prospects.

"If you have no desire to play on Sundays, you can't play for me," Sanders said on the podcast. "I want players that have the willingness and the readiness to sacrifice and go to the next level ... If you're good enough to play at Alabama, you're good enough to play in Jackson."

Sanders' name recognition should be enough to get some higher-level recruits to consider heading to an HBCU. However, he may have to prove his acumen as a coach before building the school into an FCS power.

Jackson State is reportedly going prime time.

According to Ross Dellenger of Sports Illustrated, the school is "finalizing a deal with Deion Sanders to make him" the school's next head football coach. This update comes after previous reporting from Dellenger suggesting Sanders was not a finalist.

He explained the two sides had to work out an apparel issue, as Jackson State is a Nike school and Sanders is under contract with Under Armour.

Steven J. Gaither of HBCU Gameday, who reported acting head coach TC Taylor was also a "serious candidate for the job," explained Jackson State signed an exclusive four-year contract with Nike in 2018.

It "would have to pay heavily to get out of the deal," Gaither wrote. He added, "Getting Deion Sanders would definitely make a splash, but will JSU have the money to cough up to get away from Nike?"

Sanders will have his work cut out for him in turning around a Tigers team that has not enjoyed a winning season since 2013.

Jackson State was a mere 4-8 last season and ended the campaign with three straight losses. The last of those was a 41-6 defeat at the hands of Alcorn State.

Sanders has worked in the media of late but is best known for his Hall of Fame playing career. He suited up for the Atlanta Falcons, San Francisco 49ers, Dallas Cowboys, Washington and Baltimore Ravens from 1989 through 2005, although he was retired from 2001 through 2003.

He was an eight-time Pro Bowler, six-time All-Pro and two-time Super Bowl champion who won the 1994 Defensive Player of the Year.

While Sanders doesn't have head coaching experience at the collegiate or NFL levels, Rashad Milligan of the Clarion-Ledger noted he is an offensive coordinator at Trinity Christian, a high school in Cedar Hill, Texas, which has won three state championships in a row.

Southern Mississippi alumnus Brett Favre threw another Hall of Famer into the mix as his alma mater looks to replace head coach Jay Hopson. 

Favre believes Deion Sanders "would be great for Southern Miss," per the Hattiesburg American's Joshua Capers.

"I think he would do a tremendous job, and we all know he can recruit, and we all know that he can bring attention," the legendary quarterback said.

Hopson resigned after the Golden Eagles' 32-21 defeat to South Alabama in their season opener. The school tabbed co-offensive coordinator Scotty Walden as the interim head coach.

Sanders is burnishing his coaching resume in the Texas high school ranks. He worked at Prime Prep Academy, a charter school he helped found, before its closure in 2015. From there, he moved on to the offensive coordinator gig at Trinity Christian-Cedar Hill.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo reported last November the 53-year-old was a candidate in Florida State's coaching search. The Seminoles eventually hired Mike Norvell from Memphis.

Perhaps Favre's endorsement will help Sanders if he aspires to lead the Golden Eagles.

Deion Sanders will leave NFL Network after a contract dispute between the two sides, according to Andrew Marchand of the New York Post.

The Hall of Famer had been an analyst for the network since 2006, but he will move on after his contract expired this year. NFL Network reportedly asked Sanders to take a pay cut after also canceling his show, 21 & Prime.

"Deion has been one of the key figures responsible for the growth of the NFL Network," NFL Vice President of Communications Alex Riethmiller said in a statement. "We thank him for his work and wish him the best in the future."

Though his next step is unknown, Sanders told The Dan Patrick Show in January he was "going to be a head coach in college football next year."

He was reportedly a candidate for the job at Florida State, his alma mater, but the school instead hired Mike Norvell.

Shedeur Sanders, son of Hall of Famer Deion Sanders, announced Monday he committed to Florida Atlantic.

Sanders, a 4-star recruit, is the No. 14 pro-style quarterback and No. 219 player overall in the 2021 class, per 247Sports' composite rankings.

Steve Wiltfong of 247Sports wrote the Cedar Hill, Texas, native is the highest-ranked recruit to join the Owls since the site started its ranking system.

Through his first three years of high school, Sanders has thrown for 8,796 yards, 123 touchdowns and 19 interceptions.

Florida Atlantic head coach Willie Taggart targeted Sanders when he coached at Florida State, the alma mater of Sanders' father.

"When I went there, Coach Taggart just showed a lot of love," Sanders said of a visit to Florida State in January 2019, per Noles247's Chris Nee. "I just can tell it is a change that is going to happen in a program. This year was an all right year, but I know they are going to have some great ones coming." 

Florida State fired Taggart last November before he could finish his second full season in charge. Deion Sanders signaled his frustration with the move at the time:

Taggart landed on his feet at Florida Atlantic in December, replacing Lane Kiffin after Kiffin left to coach Ole Miss.

Chris Robison threw for 3,701 yards, 28 touchdowns and six interceptions as a redshirt sophomore in 2019. Assuming Robison exhausts his eligibility, Sanders will have a year to learn before the Owls' starting quarterback job will be up for grabs.

Kiffin laid the groundwork, guiding FAU to 11-win seasons in 2017 and 2019, and the arrival of Taggart was a sign of the program's ambitions. Landing skilled prep players such as Sanders should help the Owls take the next step forward.

And by opting for Florida Atlantic, Sanders has the opportunity to carve his own legacy on the gridiron.

Quarterback Shedeur Sanders is currently ranked the 221st-best player in the class of 2021 by 247Sports and has been named a 4-star prospect. 

On Saturday, he got to go through a workout with the greatest to ever play the position.

The son of former NFL star Deion Sanders teamed up with Tom Brady in Tampa Bay as both get ready for their own make-or-break seasons. 

Brady is looking to prove he can win without the New England Patriots or head coach Bill Belichick as he transitions to the Buccaneers, while Sanders prepares for his senior year at Trinity Christian School in Texas. 

Sanders currently holds offers from Alabama, Baylor, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, LSU and Michigan, among others. 

Getting to practice with a former Wolverine quarterback certainly won't hurt the team's chances of landing Sanders.   

As Antonio Brown attempts to work his way back into the NFL, he's getting some help from Hall of Famer Deion Sanders:

"My son came to town to WORK!" Sanders wrote on Instagram. "On his Game,on his Life,On his Thoughts,on his Tomorrow & on ANTONIO BROWN! I Love him to life and I can’t wait to witness this comeback Story called A,B & See. I know what I know and I pray u all get to see what I know to be true about ANTONIO BROWN."

Brown played just one game in 2019 before being released by the New England Patriots. He remains an unsigned free agent.

Brown had previously posted a video of himself running routes:

John Clayton of ESPN 710 recently reported that Russell Wilson "would love" for Brown to join the Seattle Seahawks, although any move likely wouldn't come until July or August.

There have rarely been questions about the receiver's on-field ability, with seven Pro Bowl bids and four first-team All-Pro selections. He even scored a touchdown in his one game with New England last offseason.

However, he was accused of sexual misconduct by multiple women and then sent threatening messages to one accuser, which were then posted on social media.

Brown was also charged with assault in April stemming from a January incident with a delivery truck driver.

The 31-year-old is still attempting a comeback to the NFL and doing what he can to stay in shape while awaiting his next opportunity.

Deion Sanders gave Todd Gurley his blessing to wear the No. 21 jersey he made famous with the Atlanta Falcons.

Gurley previously indicated Sanders had voiced his objections to seeing the 2015 first-round pick don the number for the 2020 NFL season.

"Prime was hatin' on me," Gurley said on 92.9 The Game. "He told me don't wear it. If I was Prime, I wouldn't want nobody be wearing my number either."

The three-time Pro Bowler wore the No. 30 jersey during his five-year run with the Los Angeles Rams. With his move to Atlanta, he decided to change things up.

The Falcons haven't exactly kept the No. 21 jersey on ice since Sanders' departure following the 1993 season. Seven players have used the number, with cornerback Desmond Truant the most recent occupant.