Ex-Colorado Coach Says He Contacted Saudi Arabia Fund For NIL for Deion Sanders' Team

Deion Sanders' Colorado Buffaloes football program reportedly pursued a non-traditional option when it came to name, image and likeness partnerships this offseason.

Jason Jones of Sports Illustrated reported Thursday that former special teams coordinator Trevor Reilly, who resigned on Aug. 1, revealed in a letter to Colorado athletic director Rick George and Sanders that he spent time in the Middle East discussing potential NIL funding from Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF).

"I even went to Saudi Arabia and got a meeting with the Saudis, who were interested in pursuing business," he wrote. "I have email receipts to prove it, and you guys let it fall flat on its face."

Reilly told Sports Illustrated he was acting on his own and "did nothing illegal and was trying to help Colorado the best way I knew how."

Colorado confirmed Reilly's statement, telling A.J. Perez of Front Office Sports he "acted on his own accord and is no longer an employee of the university."

A partnership with Colorado would not have been the first time the PIF was involved in sports, as it is the primary financial backer of LIV Golf, has a partnership with Formula One, is the majority owner of Newcastle United and is a stakeholder in Chelsea.

Still, the partnership would have led to plenty of criticism for Colorado.

Saudi Arabia has been criticized for sportswashing through the PIF, with many saying it is using its involvement in sports to help direct attention away from various human rights violations and scandals.

Sanders' program has been no stranger to scrutiny either, whether it is criticism for the way it uses the transfer portal, its heavy social media presence or the lack of results on the field compared to headlines surrounding the team.

Having the PIF financially back some of the NIL deals after Colorado went 4-8 overall and 1-8 in the Pac-12 during Sanders' first season as the head coach would have done nothing to quiet the outside noise surrounding the program.

The partnership never happened, though, and Reilly is no longer a member of the staff.

As for the Buffaloes, they are surely focused on the upcoming season opener against North Dakota State on Aug. 29.