Deion Sanders Reveals Advice to Shedeur and Shilo, Talks Colorado Football and More

Shedeur and Shilo Sanders have faced plenty of adversity already with the start of their first NFL season looming, but they also have an advantage that many rookies do not.

A Hall of Fame father to turn to for advice.

"My deal with my kids is that they don't have to be THE best but they have to give THEIR BEST," Colorado head coach and two-time Super Bowl champion Deion Sanders told Bleacher Report. "They've always been very mature, and they're very understanding of the times and what they're up against. I'm truly excited to see them overcome all the adversity and for them to shine."

The adversity started early, as Shedeur fell to the fifth round of the draft before the Cleveland Browns selected him. That was better than Shilo, who went undrafted before he signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. 

Shedeur is now battling for positioning on the Browns' depth chart with Dillon Gabriel and Kenny Pickett after Joe Flacco was named the starter, while Shilo is fighting for a roster spot with Tampa Bay's preseason finale against the Buffalo Bills scheduled for Saturday.

He may be behind Flacco, but Shedeur impressed in his first preseason game by throwing for two touchdowns against the Carolina Panthers.

Regardless of how their NFL careers unfold, they will always be part of the legacy that their father is building at Colorado.

The trajectory of Colorado football has gone in one direction since Sanders took over the program ahead of the 2023 season, and the head coach is ready to continue building on all the positive momentum in his third campaign.

"What I'm most looking forward to this season is seeing our team come together and perform at the highest level," Sanders said. "We've worked hard to build a culture of discipline, energy, and belief, and I'm excited to see our players embrace that mindset on the field. From the first snap to the last play, I want to see them compete with intensity, make big plays, and represent what it means to be a Colorado Buffalo."

Being a Colorado Buffalo has meant constant improvement in a short time since he took over.

Colorado was 1-11 in 2022 before he arrived and then went 4-8 in his first season and 9-4 in his second season. Sanders' club was in the middle of the Big 12 title race for much of the 2024 campaign and tallied notable wins against Utah, Oklahoma State, Arizona and UCF, among others.

The end result was an Alamo Bowl spot, which was just the program's third bowl game in 17 years.

To say Sanders accelerated a rebuilding process for a team that needed one would be an understatement, and having a Hall of Famer leading the way on the sidelines has also accelerated the spotlight for the program as a whole.

Blenders Eyewear has capitalized on that spotlight and partnered with Sanders for the launch of the new Kingpin product for Season III of the Blenders x PRIME21 collaboration.

"This partnership with Coach Prime might be the most iconic to ever hit the net," Blenders Eyewear founder Chase Fisher said. "From breaking the internet in Season 1 to shaping the culture around confidence and presence, it's become its own movement, not just a collab. Prime brings an energy that people feel the second he shows up, and we've turned that into something fans can wear and live out every day. You put these shades on, and something shifts. You stand taller. You move different. And when you show up like that, people notice."

Blenders Eyewear

It has been a natural partnership for Sanders himself.

"If you know me, you know I've always loved eyewear;  it's part of my DNA," the coach said. "It's not just about style, it's about presence. When you put on the right shades, you feel unstoppable. That's why working with Blenders is such a natural fit. They match my energy, they're fearless with design, and they believe in turning heads. Together, we're not just making sunglasses, we're making moments that people remember."

One moment people remember involved Sanders and shades during his first season with the Buffaloes in 2023.

Colorado State head coach Jay Norvell took a shot at Sanders ahead of the in-state rivalry game by saying he makes sure to take off his hat and sunglasses when talking to adults. Sanders responded by telling his team the game was now "personal."

And he just so happened to gift the players on his team with some Blenders shades while adding, "They don't realize they just helped me with business."

Colorado got the shades and the last laugh with a dramatic 43-35 double-overtime victory. 

Shedeur threw for 348 yards and four touchdowns, the second of which came in the final minute of the game to Jimmy Horn Jr. on a deep ball. The ensuing two-point conversion forced overtime, and Sanders took advantage with two more touchdown passes and a victory in the extra time.

He wasn't the only family member to find the end zone that game, as Shilo started the scoring with an 80-yard pick-six on the defensive side in the first quarter.

Yet Shedeur and Shilo are no longer on the Colorado roster as they begin their NFL careers. 

That means it is a new chapter for the entire Sanders family, but the Colorado coach is confident his sons will "shine" at the next level. And the Buffaloes will look to do the same as they eye another bowl appearance in 2025.