The Sanders clan is synonymous with polarizing. But love them or loathe them, you’re gonna talk about them. This weekend, however, the discourse around them was more prevalent than ever. Shedeur Sanders’ inexplicable draft slide spawned enough hypotheticals and conspiracies to last through this off-season as the masses seek their football fix. It even raised questions of whether Deion Sanders’ proactivity and involvement were a factor in why teams passed on the QB. The events over the course of the NFL Draft add another layer of intrigue to the exclusive interview we at EssentiallySports had with analyst and CFB savant Adam Breneman. 

Whichever way you scrutinize it, Deion Sanders’ foray into the coaching realm has been a roaring success. He has turned around 2 college programs in an unprecedentedly short amount of time. Naturally, this brought about interest from the NFL. Deion was very heavily linked to the Cowboys’ job earlier in the offseason. Alas, they’ve since hired Brian Schottenheimer, and Coach Prime has penned a new contract with Colorado. The chat around this ascension to the next rung has quelled. But there was a belief it could reignite depending on how the chips fall in the draft. So now they we’re privy to that information, is Deion Sanders more or less likely to coach in the NFL. During that aforementioned exclusive interview with EssentiallySports, Adam Brenemen implied it’s the latter.

We asked the former All-American tight end around a straightforward premise. “Do you see Deion Sanders coaching in the NFL if Shilo & Shedeur Sanders wind up at the same franchise?” This, of course, was pre-draft. Breneman’s response is even more gripping with the context of how things went down in Green Bay. “It’s a fun storyline, but I don’t see Deion leaving for the NFL right now. He thrives in college — where he can recruit, build culture, and be the face of the program. That’s his superpower. If Shedeur and Shilo end up on the same NFL team, sure, it would be tempting,” said Adam Breneman. That didn’t transpire.

Shedeur Sanders got drafted to the Cleveland Browns 144th overall, while Shilo Sanders signed on as an undrafted player for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. This means the one door that Breneman thought could open the door for Deion Sanders’ exit from Boulder is now also shut. The signs do point towards him staying on. Breneman’s right about how the collegiate game suits Prime. He wouldn’t get the keys to cultivate the sort of unidirectional imprint he’s had on Jackson State and Colorado in the NFL. As much of a legend as he is, no coach gets that much leverage in the league. 

During this exclusive interview, EssentiallySports also asked Adam Breneman his opinions on how Shilo Sanders individually. The safety got the short end of the stick when it comes to Deion Sanders’ athletic prowess permeating over to his sons. That said, there’s still a serviceable player in there. The right coaching and an environment conducive to growth can extract that player from within him. Breneman concurs with this.

Being the son of Deion Sanders doesn’t help Shilo Sanders now that he’s through the door

“Any thoughts on whether Shilo does/doesn’t get drafted?” is what we asked Adam Breneman during his exclusive EssentiallySports interview. Who actually wound up giving an elaborate take on the player and what he’ll need to do once he walks through that door at the Bucs. “[Shilo Sanders] is right on the edge. He’s got great instincts and toughness, but the measurables aren’t elite. He’ll get a shot in a camp — then it’s up to him to stick,” remarked Breneman. 

Deion Sanders is unequivocally one of the greatest athletic specimens to grace the sports sphere. Heck, he played in both the NFL and MLB. But his genes didn’t quite pass on with linearity to either Shilo or Shedeur. It’s morbidly ironic how their athleticism, or lack thereof, is the biggest indictment against them.

How poorly the NFL received Shilo and Shedeur’s demands, Deion Sanders to self-reflect. He has never coached without his sons on his team, so that wrinkle already adds an interesting dynamic. The 2025 season will say a lot about Deion Sanders, the father and the coach. The lines were blurred in the past, and it may have exacted a cost on them. But they’re much more distinct roles now, and how he can coach under more conventional circumstances will say a lot about whether he takes the helm at an NFL franchise in the future. Next year is a litmus test of his acumen. Adam Breneman, meanwhile, also gave EssentiallySports a scoop about his thoughts on Nico Iamaleava.