ArcaMax

The press conference that University of Colorado Boulder football coach Deion Sanders held at the end of July brought to light the serious health issues that he has been dealing with. Sanders, known as Coach Prime, opened up to the public regarding his bladder cancer diagnosis, something that he did not immediately disclose to his sons Shedeur and Shilo, who played for him at Colorado and were focused on the NFL draft in April. As his doctors explained the surgery he underwent to remove his bladder due to a cancerous tumor and use a portion of his small intestine to replace it, Sanders maintained a jovial sense of humor. I would not be surprised to see him in a Depends commercial soon. Yet he emphasized the need to get regular checkups from primary care physicians, especially for African American men. Sanders constantly referred to himself as God's messenger throughout the presser, telling reporters that the Lord was using him for His glory in overcoming the illness, as well as making him a conduit for needed medical awareness.

With the platform that Sanders has as a legendary NFL Hall of Famer and now a college football coach, he is a great mouthpiece to praise God through his powerful and encouraging testimony. Sports fans who have followed Sanders' playing career know that he has always been bold and confident in his athletic prowess. His swagger as a shutdown corner was unmatched on the field during the 1990s, when he played for the Atlanta Falcons, San Francisco 49ers and Dallas Cowboys. There was no better entertainment than Sanders' NFL highlight reels of high-stepping to the endzone after picking off quarterbacks' passes. His exceptional ability as a two-sport athlete, playing pro baseball as well as football, added to his stardom, as he came close to winning a World Series in 1992 with the Atlanta Braves. As a huge Sanders fan, I was always sorry that he did not get a World Series ring to go along with his two Super Bowl rings.

Now approaching his 58th birthday, Sanders is tackling health challenges where winning equates to the extension of life. However, it's not just his life that he is concerned about. Obviously, he wants to be here for his family and the young men he coaches, but he's also intently focusing on how his life impacts others. I think the most profound statement Sanders made at his press conference was that he never asked, "God, why me?" If he did, Sanders said that he would also have to ask, "God ... why did you give me the position of the head football coach of the prestigious university? Why did you allow me to father five wonderful kids? Why did you give me these relationships with these wonderful people? Why me, Lord, did I have some of the things that I have?" Sanders referenced Job 1:8, in which God asked Satan if he had "considered" Job, an upright man who "eschewed" evil. Now, Sanders' cancer battle, as critical as it has been, is not equivalent to what Job bore in terms of the initial loss of his possessions, children and health, but Sanders was making a spiritual comparison of going through a journey of testing. "A lot of blessings come with the luggage of tribulation and trials," he said, "but if you're built for the trials, you enjoy the journey," adding that he is drawn to the demanding process that leads to a victorious outcome.

Reactions to Sanders sharing his health issues have been overwhelmingly positive, with comments on YouTube thanking him for his transparency that will help save lives. I did read some skeptical remarks on other sites claiming that Sanders had it easier than most people with the same diagnosis due to his wealth. While he is certainly blessed to have the financial resources to receive quality care and have a job that gave him the time to recover, his faith, not his money, is the bedrock that sustained him. This is the message that Sanders will continuously utilize in valuable life lessons for his players at Colorado and share with all those who come in contact with him. He is not taking anything for granted, as he graciously stated, "You have no idea how good God has been for me to be here. You have no idea."

========

Dr. Jessica A. Johnson is a lecturer in the English department at Ohio State University's Lima campus. Email her at smojc.jj@gmail.com. Follow her on X: @JjSmojc. To find out more about Jessica Johnson and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

Copyright 2025 Creators Syndicate, Inc.