Deion Sanders is a retired American professional football and baseball player who currently coaches the University of Colorado. Before that, he was the coach of Jackson State University on a four-year deal worth $1.2 million.
Sanders was a multisport star in high school before earning a scholarship to Florida State University, where he was a member of the school’s football, baseball, and track teams. He became considered as the only person to have played in both a Super Bowl and a World Series.
At the peak of his professional career, Sanders was one of the highest-earning athletes in the world, taking home around $10-15 million per year in the late 1990s between endorsements and contracts from baseball and NFL teams.
His career earnings between NFL and MLB salaries was just under $60 million– $45 million from NFL salaries, and $13 million from baseball salaries, according to Celebrity Net Worth. What is more, the platform estimates his current net worth to be around $45 million. Face2Face Africa has not been able to independently verify these figures. Also, Sanders earned millions more from endorsements with major companies including Nike, Pepsi, Sega, Burger King, American Express, and Pizza Hut.
Born Deion Luwynn Sanders Sr. on August 9, 1967, in Fort Myers, Florida, he nurtured his love for football, basketball, and baseball when he attended North Fort Myers High School. He was called up to the Florida High School Association All-Century team in 1985. The team consisted of the top 33 players in the 100-year history of high school football in Florida. That same year, the Kansas City Royals selected him for the Major League Baseball draft, but he declined.
Sanders achieved simultaneous success in two major sports leagues: football and baseball. He played football for Florida State University and was recognized as a two-time All-American champion. He was first drafted by the Atlanta Falcons and played football primarily as a cornerback. He also played for the Atlanta Falcons, the San Francisco 49ers, the Dallas Cowboys, the Washington Redskins and the Baltimore Ravens. He played multiple positions such as cornerback, but also occasionally as a wide receiver, kick returner, and punt returner in the course of his career.
He did 14 seasons with the NFL and during that period, he won two Super Bowl Titles, XXIX with the 49ers and XXX with the Cowboys. What is more, he played in nine pro-bowls and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2011.
Sanders played professional baseball part-time for nine years, first signing with the Yankees. He made his major league baseball debut on May 31, 1989, three days after inking a $4.4 million deal. However, he was released by the Yankees after just a season. He joined the Atlanta Braves where he enjoyed a bit more success before joining Cincinnati Reds in 1997, and later with the San Francisco Giants.
In December 2022, Sanders signed a 5-year, $29.5 million contract to become the head coach of the University of Colorado football team. He and his Colorado team recently brought $17 million to Boulder’s economy in a single weekend.
Interestingly, Sanders’ children are following down their father’s path to success. Sanders shares his eldest daughter Deiondra and son Deion Jr. with ex-wife Carolyn Chambers. The former Major League Baseball player is also a father to sons Shilo and Shedeur and daughter Shelomi; he shares these three children with his second wife, Pilar Biggers-Sanders. While all three of his sons are in the game of football, his two daughters have also played professional basketball. Indeed, Sanders has coached his sons Shilo and Shedeur at Jackson State and currently Colorado.
