Deion Sanders continues to be the controversy king. After a roller-coaster season in Boulder, Coach Prime bid his sons, Shedeur Sanders and Shilo Sanders, a heart-melting goodbye as they left for the NFL. But he is not just sitting back and getting mushy over the memories. Papa Sanders has even more responsibility to look at right now. The veteran head coach long interfered in his sons’ NFL decisions, dishing out his likes and dislikes, suggestions and opinions.

But taking it too far to bar Shedeur Sanders from attending draft night seemed a bit, especially after former Dr. Phillips standout and current Alabama director of player development made an eye-opening confession.

Deion Sanders’ NFL seriousness gets shredded as Nick Saban’s past deed resurfaced 

When it comes to coaching excellence, Deion Sanders vs Nick Saban can be a legitimate debate. Both won championships, both turned around the fate of an average program, and both are legends in their own right. To write the close comparison off on a right note, Cam Newton placed Coach Prime higher than Coach Saban in terms of swagger, bravado, and everything in between. But when it comes to pushing his talent to a greater career decision, it seems Saban had a brownie point. Ha Ha Clinton-Dix owed his Green Packers legacy to Nick Saban.

He was not sure on a draft night, but Nick Saban made the push. ”I can see him staring at me and I’m like damn he probably noticing what I got going probably see what I got on so I get closer to him and he just standing up he was like Hey, what are you doing on and I was like man, you know, coach it’s cold outside and his exact words to me was what happened to Green Bay, draft your a** man. Coach told me what happened to the Green Bay draft, I told him I ain’t going, said you got 5 Seconds to get back inside and take out, be outside before I blow this horn and the rest is history,” the former Alabama safety spilled a lesser known locker room story. The Green Bay Packers picked Clinton-Dix in the first round (21st overall) of the 2014 NFL draft. The Orlando native suited up in 78 games with 72 starts (including playoffs) over the course of five seasons in Green Bay. In 2022, the two-time NFL national champion hung up the boots for good.

Coming to a contrasting picture in Deion Sanders’ recent chronicle, his son Shedeur Sanders revealed that his dad asked him not to attend the draft night. Colorado Buffaloes star quarterback Shedeur Sanders made headlines when he said that he won’t grace the 2025 NFL Draft in Green Bay, Wisconsin, and quite rightfully so. Sanders, a projected top-five pick and arguably top quarterback prospect, has been with his father since Jackson State, triggering a valid question of whether he can, at all, adjust under any other coach in the NFL.

However, spilling the mystery, Sanders said they have a special event planned in Colorado but didn’t share further details about it. But whatever the case, you can argue Coach Saban would never encourage his players to prioritize celebrations over traditional draft ceremonies. His main flex lies in his attention to players’ individual growth.

Ha Ha Clinton-Dix reveals Nick Saban’s effect on his life

Saban won seven national championships as a head coach, six at Alabama and one at LSU. Clinton-Dix was an indispensable part of two of those championship seasons, the back-to-back titles in 2011-12. Winning titles is always a matter of pride, Clinton-Dix said, but Saban’s legacy stretches beyond.

”Playing for Coach Saban is like playing for your dad. It’s like making your dad happy on a Saturday, like playing baseball as a 7- or 8-year-old kid, having that male figure who treats his players like his own kids is really what it was all about.” the former Packers Safety noted. Now you know, the ever poker-faced persona was nothing but an outer coating of a soft-hearted coach who wants the absolute best for his boys.

When Saban retired from Alabama, unlike many, Clinton took it as an event worth celebrating. Instead of whining about the old gold days, the former Safety believes whatever Saban did in Tuscaloosa deserves a huge shout-out. “It’s a time to celebrate Coach Saban’s history and the things he has done for young men. He’s helped change families’ lives,” said Clinton.

Deion Sanders, on the other hand, still struggles to prove his worth other than a coach dad.