STWF Sports | DALLAS | June 3, 2026 — The Dallas Cowboys’ search for a new head coach after the 2024 season brought plenty of speculation, but one of the biggest names tied to the job is now making it clear there was never much substance behind the buzz.
Pro Football Hall of Famer and Cowboys legend Deion Sanders recently addressed the rumors that connected him to Dallas’ head coaching vacancy, saying the conversations were not serious and that he had no real interest in becoming an NFL head coach.
“They weren’t real at all,” Sanders told Front Office Sports when asked about the Cowboys rumors. “I liked playing the pro game, but I wouldn’t enjoy coaching the pro game. It’s a different game.”
The comments add clarity to a storyline that drew major attention after the Cowboys finished the 2024 season at 7-10, placing third in the NFC East and missing the playoffs. Following the disappointing year, owner Jerry Jones chose not to bring back Mike McCarthy, who had coached Dallas since 2020.
With one of the NFL’s most visible jobs open, speculation quickly turned toward high-profile candidates. Sanders became one of the most talked-about names because of his Cowboys history, his long relationship with Jones and his rising profile as the head coach at Colorado.
Sanders had just guided the Buffaloes to a 9-4 season, with his son Shedeur Sanders at quarterback and two-way star Travis Hunter helping drive national attention around the program. The idea of “Coach Prime” returning to Dallas created a media storm, even if the reality was far less dramatic.
Sanders’ connection to the Cowboys is obvious. He remains one of the most recognizable players in franchise history and was part of the team’s 1995 Super Bowl championship run. His relationship with Jones spans more than three decades, which made the rumors feel believable from the outside.
But Sanders indicated that coaching in the NFL was never part of his plan.
His reasoning was direct. The professional game, he said, is different from the college game. At Colorado, Sanders has focused on player development, program building and helping young athletes prepare for life beyond football.
“I’m focused on winning and getting these kids through college so they have degrees, and they’re able to attain tremendous professions even after football is over,” Sanders said. “But I have no thought process of the NFL whatsoever.”
Dallas ultimately stayed inside the building, promoting offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer to head coach. Schottenheimer’s first season produced a 7-9-1 record, keeping pressure on a Cowboys organization still looking to reestablish itself as a serious postseason threat.
Sanders, meanwhile, remained in Boulder. Colorado followed its 9-4 season with a 3-9 campaign in 2025 after losing Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter to the NFL. Still, the university made a strong commitment to Sanders, signing him to a massive contract extension through 2029 worth $54 million.
That deal reinforced what Sanders has now said publicly: his focus remains on Colorado, not the NFL.
Sanders also addressed the early professional journey of his son, Shedeur, who was selected by the Cleveland Browns in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft. While Shedeur entered the league on a rookie contract paying the league minimum, he reportedly received $17.7 million in group licensing income during his first NFL year, setting an all-time record.
Deion used that figure to highlight his son’s financial impact and popularity.
“I just had a kid that made the most money in the history of the NFL itself,” Sanders said. “That wasn’t even including jerseys. Ya’ll don’t know that. That was just… that was another deal.”
Shedeur’s marketability followed a standout final college season in which he threw for 4,134 yards and 37 touchdowns. That production helped make him one of the most recognizable players in college football, even before his professional career began.
After spending the first half of his rookie season on Cleveland’s bench, Shedeur started the final seven games and threw for 1,400 yards while leading the Browns to a 4-3 record.
For the Cowboys, the Sanders speculation now appears to be closed. The idea made headlines because of the names involved, but Sanders’ own words suggest it was never a realistic path.
Coach Prime may always be linked to Dallas because of his playing legacy, but his coaching future remains firmly rooted in Colorado.
