Deion Sanders announces he had bladder cancer

DENVER (KDVR) – Doctors for Deion Sanders announced Monday that the former NFL star was diagnosed with an aggressive form of bladder cancer, but that after surgery, he is cured.

Dr. Janet Kukreja, the director of urologic oncology at the CU Cancer Center/UCHealth University of Colorado hospital, said Sanders, who turns 58 next month, had his bladder removed as part of the surgical plan. 

It was his 14th surgery since 2021.

At the first press conference of the 2025 camp on Monday, Sanders, the University of Colorado Buffaloes‘ head coach, said he plans to oversee the Buffaloes this season as he enters his third season at Colorado.

The press conference came after ongoing questions about Coach Prime’s health. In June, Sanders was reportedly at his Texas home with an “unspecified health issue.” While Sanders has struggled with his left foot since having two toes amputated in 2021 because of blood clot issues, he hasn’t spoken much about his health.

After not attending some football camps in Boulder, Sanders took to social media in June, saying that “everything is OKAY” despite his extended absence. He said then that he would provide updates when he got back to Boulder.

On Sunday, Sanders also posted a video on his Instagram saying that he had to make a will.

“I don’t know if I’m ready, mentally, emotionally. Last night was tough, yesterday was tough, cause I had to make a will. That’s, that’s not easy, at all, to think that you might not be here. But you want to make sure everybody’s straight,” Sanders said in the video, taken on May 18.

When Sanders made an appearance on the second day of the Big 12 Media Days, he refused to talk about his health and only focused on the Buffs’ upcoming season.

Sanders had also said he is coming back to CU, and he recently signed a $10 million base salary contract extension through the 2029 season after turning the program around.

The Buffs are about a month out from opening the season at home versus the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets on Aug. 29.

It will be the first season in quite some time that he hasn’t coached one of his sons. Quarterback Shedeur Sanders was drafted by the Cleveland Browns while Shilo, a safety, is in camp with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Deion Sanders and the Buffaloes went 4-8 in his first season and 9-4 last season, with an appearance in the Alamo Bowl. They have big shoes to fill in replacing Shedeur Sanders and Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.