Why Cam Newton Believes Deion Sanders Should Leave Coaching

Deion Sanders has built a reputation as one of college football's most compelling figures. But Cam Newton thinks his best chapter might not involve a headset.

Sanders took over a Colorado Buffaloes program that was 1-11 and turned heads immediately. The Buffaloes went 4-8 in his first year, then broke through in 2024 with a 9-4 record and came very close to the Big 12 title.

Travis Hunter won the Heisman that season and Shedeur Sanders rewrote the school's passing records. Colorado was a national story. Then 2025 arrived and both stars left for the NFL. Without them, the Buffaloes fell to 3-9.

Cam Newton suggests new future role for Deion Sanders

That backdrop is part of what drove Newton's thinking. Speaking on the '4th and 1 podcast,' the former NFL MVP made a case that Sanders might be more valuable outside of coaching than in it.

"When you talk to Coach Prime and you hear his philosophy and his passion, he wants to impact young men's lives," Newton said. "I think by the time they get to the NFL, it's already gone. The ideal situation for Coach Prime, for his future - he should be the general manager for Florida State Seminoles."

Newton's argument goes beyond the wins and losses. In his view, Sanders' greatest strength has never been scheme or strategy. It's the way he connects with people. Most executives in college programs operate at a distance from the players they're supposed to be building around.

Newton points to Colorado limiting Deion Sanders

Coach Prime doesn't have that problem. Newton believes that kind of relatability belongs in a broader leadership role where it can do more.

"I think with Coach Prime's expertise, his greatest value is relatability. I really have grown to appreciate Deion way beyond football," Newton added. "He will be an unbelievable executive for any college program."

Sanders hasn't walked away from what he's building there and the belief is that he wants to see it through. But Newton is pointing at something real. Colorado doesn't carry the financial muscle or recruiting pull that programs like LSU Tigers football have. That gap is hard to close in today's NIL-driven landscape no matter who's coaching.

Newton's point is that Sanders, placed somewhere like Florida State with the right backing and infrastructure, could look very different from what Colorado has been able to offer.

Whether Sanders stays on the sideline or eventually moves into a front office role remains to be seen. But Newton clearly thinks the bigger opportunity is waiting somewhere else.

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This story was originally published April 19, 2026 at 4:12 PM.