Prime Pay: Colorado Gives Deion Sanders $54 Million Extension

Just two seasons into the Coach Prime era, Colorado is giving Deion Sanders a contract extension and making him one of the highest-paid coaches in college football.

Sanders will make $10 million in 2025, with his salary increasing to $12 million by 2029, as part of the new five-year deal that will total $54 million. That’s nearly double what Sanders had been making. Colorado initially signed Sanders to a five-year, $29.5 million contract ahead of the 2023 season. His new $10.8 million average annual salary ranks fourth in the nation among college football coaches.

The Buffaloes are 13–12 under Sanders, after improving to 9–4 in 2024 following a disappointing 4–8 record in 2023. Colorado lost to Big 12 rival BYU in the Alamo Bowl this past postseason. In January, Sanders spoke with Cowboys owner Jerry Jones about the head coaching vacancy in Dallas.

Colorado is moving on without star quarterback Shedeur Sanders, Coach Prime’s son, and Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter, who are both projected to be selected among the top 10 picks in the 2025 NFL Draft, which kicks off April 24.

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Since arriving in Boulder, Sanders has helped revive a Colorado football team that was struggling on and off the field.

Home attendance and season ticket sales have spiked for the Buffaloes, and Colorado has become a popular draw on national TV. 

Sanders recently announced his desire to start a new trend in college football by organizing a spring game against another Power 4 opponent. Colorado and Syracuse requested permission from the NCAA to conduct the event, but there has been no official decision yet.

On the field, Colorado has high hopes around incoming freshman Julian Lewis, a four-star recruit out of Carrollton, Ga., who is one of the nation’s top quarterback prospects.