Deion Sanders has endured a major health scare, but is seemingly on the other side of it.
In a news conference in Boulder, Colorado, on Monday, July 28, Sanders, the head coach of the Colorado Buffaloes, sat as his doctor announced he is officially cured from cancer.
The Pro Football Hall of Famer told the media that he was dealing with a bladder tumor that was causing him problems that had him away from the team over much of the past few months.
Sanders brought up Colorado’s assistant athletic trainer Lauren Askevold and Dr. Janet Kukreja with him at the news conference. He stated Askevold assisted him throughout his journey and helped him get checked out.
After scans to rule out blood clots, doctors told Sanders to see a urologist. During his visit with the urologist, doctors said he needed to get a procedure to remove the tumor they found.
Dr. Kukreja was the doctor to complete the procedure and she states that the coach is “cured from the cancer.”
“Men get checked out.” Sanders said. “If I didn’t get checked out for other stuff, I would have never spotted the tumor.”
Sanders said that he did not share his health prognosis with his team or his sons who played for him at Colorado and Jackson State, Shedeur, now a quarterback with the Cleveland Browns, or Shilo, now a defensive back with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
In March, Sanders signed a new five-year deal with Colorado.
Deion Sanders NFL career
Sanders was drafted fifth overall in the 1989 NFL draft out of Florida State. The Fort Myers native played 14 seasons in the NFL and finished his career with eight Pro Bowls, six All-Pro first-team selections, a Defensive Player of the Year award and two Super Bowls.
Sanders is known as one of the best defensive players of all time. He primarily played cornerback in the NFL but had numerous stints where he played wide receiver as well as starring as a prolific kick/punt returner. Sanders was a dynamic player; one the NFL had not seen in some time. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2011 and was named to the HOF’s All-1990s team and NFL’s 100th anniversary all-time team.
Deion Sanders coaching career
Sanders became a head coach for the first time at Jackson State in September 2020. He joined the team as two of his sons (Shedeur and Shilo) played for the HBCU. Sanders coaching career with the Jackson State Tigers was a success as he won the SWAC Coach of the Year reward after the Tigers recorded a school record 11 wins and won a SWAC championship.
He took a head coaching job at Colorado after his stint with the Tigers and became more popular in the college football world. The Buffaloes finished with a 1-11 record the year before Sanders arrived and in two years’ time, Colorado were 9-4, a season highlighted by Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter.
Deion Sanders MLB career
Deion Sanders not only played both sides of the ball in the NFL, but he played two different sports. Sanders batted a .263 average, had 39 home runs, 168 RBIs and 186 stolen bases in nine MLB seasons. He played in the 1992 World Series with the Atlanta Braves, where they lost to the Toronto Blue Jays, four games to two.
Deion Sanders health history
Sanders has had numerous health concerns over the years. In his press conference, he stated he had 14 surgeries since 2021. A major concern was his foot that had been causing issues for a while. In 2022, Sanders had to get two toes amputated after they started turning black. He had three blood clots that were causing harm to his leg and the amputation of the toes was necessary to save his leg.
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Deion Sanders ‘cured from cancer’ after surgery to remove bladder tumor
Reporting by Niles Garrison, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida / Fort Myers News-Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
