‘One of the Worst Contracts in the Sport’ — ESPN Reporter Delivers a Brutal Reality Check on Deion Sanders’ $54M Colorado Deal
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The Colorado Buffaloes gave Deion Sanders a lucrative contract after he helped revive the program. But with the team struggling to build on that early success, ESPN’s Pete Thamel is questioning whether the investment has paid off.
Thamel delivered a harsh assessment of Sanders’ fourth season in Boulder and highlighted the $26.1 million buyout that could complicate any decision to move on from the coach.
Pete Thamel Dissects Deion Sanders’ Colorado Contract
Thamel argued that Sanders has fielded little interest from other programs after Colorado followed its 9-4 season in 2024 with a disappointing 3-9 finish in 2025. The Buffaloes are off to another rough start in 2026, sitting at 2-3.
“With no serious suitors for Sanders, the length and guaranteed money now make it one of the worst contracts in the sport,”Thamel wrote.
Colorado’s Board of Regents approved Sanders’ five-year, $54 million extension in March 2025, which then-athletic director Rick George announced. The deal runs through 2029, with Sanders’ annual salary set to reach $12 million.
At the time, there were reasons for Colorado to make that investment. Sanders took the Buffaloes from a 1-11 season to nine wins and a bowl appearance within two years.
The university also pointed to a spike in applications and television audiences when announcing the extension.
Thamel believes much of that early momentum has since faded. He questioned Colorado’s identity, competitiveness, and ability to maintain interest following Travis Hunter’s departure.
“For Sanders, Colorado was just a vehicle for his reality show,” Thamel wrote. “For Colorado, they got a bump out of Travis Hunter’s brilliance, but that’s becoming a distant memory.”
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That is a damning assessment of Sanders’ tenure, and Colorado’s recent results help explain the scrutiny. The Buffaloes have gone 2-13 in their past 15 games against power-conference opponents.
Colorado’s $26.1 Million Buyout Complicates Sanders’ Future
Thamel put Sanders’ buyout at $26.1 million, a significant hurdle for an athletic department that is projecting a $27 million fiscal deficit, according to his report. A coaching change would also come with the cost of building a competitive roster.
New athletic director Fernando Lovo now faces that financial challenge while trying to get the program back on track. Colorado’s offensive production has been another concern.
Brennan Marion’s unit ranks No. 125 nationally, averaging 18.6 points per game. Julian Lewis, the highly touted quarterback who left high school early, has also fallen to third on the depth chart. His 71.0 PFN QB Impact Score ranks #115 in the nation.
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Thamel also pointed to a broadcast moment when Sanders complained that Colorado had only nine players on the field after a timeout prompted by an alignment with eight players.
The sequence added to the frustration surrounding a team that has struggled to find consistency.
Colorado has a bye before facing No. 12 Utah and traveling to play No. 18 Oklahoma State. Those matchups give Sanders an opportunity to change the narrative.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.
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