Coach Prime connects with fellow cancer survivors
Deion Sanders shares powerful roundtable with UCHealth patients
Longmont, Colo. (Oct. 21, 2025) – Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders, the electrifying head coach of the University of Colorado Buffaloes, sat shoulder-to-shoulder with fellow cancer survivors Monday afternoon to share experiences and inspiration.
Coach Prime, who recently revealed that he is cancer-free following treatment for bladder cancer, connected with eight patients who have been receiving cancer care services at UCHealth Longs Peak Medical Center in Longmont. In a heartfelt roundtable session, the Colorado Buffaloes head coach shared his personal journey and listened as others opened up about their own battles, creating a rare and powerful moment of connection, resilience and hope.
“I met a group full of men and women today that said, ‘No. Not me. I’m bigger than this. I’m better than this. I got this,” Coach Prime said after the gathering with the people he said are now his role models. “They fought cancer head-on, and they’re still fighting cancer head-on.”
During the exchange, a UCHealth oncology nurse navigator asked everyone to write on a piece of paper what has helped them get through their cancer journey. Some chose Bible verses or mantras they have been living by while others gave nod to single words – like “warrior” and “love” – or the people in their lives who have been by their side.
Community and connection are key when fighting cancer, Coach Prime said.
“This is something that you can’t get through by yourself,” he said. “First of all, you’ve got to connect with the Lord in some type of way. But family, friends and loved ones as well as community play a vital role.”
The Colorado Buffaloes play the Utah Utes in Salt Lake City on Saturday night. This is Sanders’ third season as the coach of the Buffaloes.
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